E1 Films’ release of the third instalment in the Twilght Saga eclipsed all rivals at the UK box office in its debut weekend.

With a gross of $20.6m (£13.7m) Eclipse recorded the biggest UK opening of 2010 and outperformed Twilight: New Moon which took $17.6m (£11.7m) eight months earlier. Eclipse opened on 523 screens across the UK, recording a highly impressive screen average of $39,500 (£26,300).

The release of Eclipse also had a knock-on effect on the franchise’s DVD sales as New Moon and Twilight re-entered the DVD chart at numbers 2 and 4.

Twentieth Century Fox’s action adventure Predators entered the UK chart in third position in its first week, taking $3.3m (£2.2m) from 396 screens. The continuation of the Predator franchise is already on the verge of surpassing its predecessor’s disappointing early ’90s performance when it only managed $3.6m (£2.3m) during its entire UK run. A beefed-up Adrien Brody heads a group of elite warriors hunted by the merciless alien tribe known as Predators.

The week’s third top ten debut Milenge Milenge finally arrived on UK screens after a lengthy delay. The troubled Indian production began filming six years ago but was delayed due to financial and casting issues. Eros International’s romance comedy made £72,400 (£48,200) from 25 screens. Satish Kaushik directs Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapur in their fifth film together.

Metrodome’s Leaving debuted at number 12 at the UK box office, taking $53,300 (£35,500) from 17 screens. Writer director Catherine Corsini’s drama charts the story of a French housewife consumed by a sudden and violent passion for the man commissioned to build an extension to her family home. Kristin Scott Thomas stars opposite Sergi Lopez.

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