The sci-fi action film, based on Suzanne Collins' books, has already broken records at the U.S. box office, and movie bosses were further delighted with the latest figures from Britain.

Lionsgate's U.K. boss, Zygi Kamasa, says, ""The Hunger Games was always destined to be this phenomenon in the U.S. Book sales have been strong in the U.K., but it's not on the same scale. We hoped to be better than Twilight's U.K. opening, and in fact we are very nearly double that.""

Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum's 21 Jump Street remake was in second place after earning $1.7 million (£1.6 million), while The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel took $1.1 million (£700,000).

Former number one movie The Devil Inside was in fourth place after notching sales of $960,000 (£600,000) and Matt Damon's We Bought A Zoo rounded out the top five with $640,000 (£400,000).