Michael Collins No one younger than 15 may see a 15 film in a cinema.

BBFC

JK Rowling unleashes her vision of the Wizarding World beyond the mega successful life of Harry Potter in the shape of Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them which enters the top with great but not excellent opening weekend.

A £15 million debut is nothing to be sniffed at, and it is the 20 top opening in the UK ever, but only 2005's Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire scored a lower opening of the Potter series.

Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban from 2004 was the biggest Potter opening with £23.8 million on its debut and is the 3rd top opening ever in the UK.

Fantastic Beasts has some big shoes to fill and with the very favourable reviews it could be a long and slow burner, but in less than 4 weeks Star Wars does the same and expands its universe which will have a knock on effect.

Arrival entered the box office at number 1 last week and falls to number 2 this week with £1.5 million which brings its total to £5.7 million after 10 days of play, its should overtake Prisoners as director Denis Villeneuve top film.

Only one other new entry this week, Andre Rieu Christmas With Andre, and event cinema, at number 4, it took just over £1 million.

Bridget Jones's Baby was once again the longest running film on the chart at 10 weeks and the top total grossing move with £47 million.

Historical charts

A year ago
The last Hunger Games film, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, made its debut at the top knocking off Spectre after a 3 week sting at number 1.

Five years ago
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 made its debut at the top of the box office knocking off Arthur Christmas.

Ten years ago
Casino Royale made its debut at number 1, it knocked off 2 week champ Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.

Fifteen years ago
The Wizarding Word started its cinematic transition with Harry Potter and The Philosophers Stone making its debut at the top, its knocked The Others down to 2.

Twenty years ago
The First Wives Club took over at the top of the box office, Michael Collins fell to number 2.

Twenty five years ago
making its debut at the top was What About Bob, Dead Again fell to number 3 after 3 weeks at the top.

This week saw Arrival make its debut at the top of the UK box office among great reviews and last weeks top film fell to number 2.

Starring Amy Adam and directed by acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve Arrival makes its UK debut at the top of the UK box office charts with just shy of £3 million pound.

This is a better opening that in many other countries like America where is could only manage a top 3 entry, although Doctor Strange is still only 10 days old over there.

Talking of Doctor Strange, in the UK it falls from the top to number 2, after 2 weeks at number 1 and a 3rd weekend of £2.3 million the films total gross is not £19.5 million.

For a second weekend the longest running film and highest total grossing film of the week is Bridget Jones's Baby, 9 weeks on the film has grossed £47.5 million, and its the second highest grossing film of the year.

Historical charts

A year ago
Spectre spent its third week at the top of the box office while top new film was The Lady In The Van at number 2.

Five years ago
Henry Cavill starred in Immortals which made its debut at the top while The Adventures of Tintin The Secret of The Unicorn fell to number 3.

Ten years ago
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan was still at the top of the UK box office with the top new film coming in at 2 in the shape of The Prestige.

Fifteen years ago
The Others stayed at the top for a second weekend while top new film was Kiss of The Dragon at number 4.

Twenty years ago
Liam Neeson starred in Michael Collins which debuted at the top knocking Dragonheart down to number 3 after 3 weeks at the top.

Twenty five years ago
The Fisher King was the top new film of the week, it knocked Dead Again down to number 2 after a couple of weeks at the top.