11/01/2011

Tom Hooper’s The King’s Speech [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Tom Hooper
film profile] has claimed the number one spot at the UK and Ireland box office for the January 7 weekend.

The British frontrunner during this year’s award’s season took in a regal £3,530,000 from 395 cinemas, with a per screen average of £8,885. This is the biggest ever opening for a UK Film Council (UKFC) backed film and also the highest ever opening for Momentum Pictures in the territory.

The film is also enjoying a long reign at the US box office, in the top 10 at number eight, raking in $6.8m dollars last week and over $33m since opening a month ago.

The David Seidler scripted film stars Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter, all of who are in serious awards contention along with Hooper.

UKFC Managing Director Tim Cagney said, “The stunning box office success of The King's Speech both in the UK and the US is testament to the creative excellence of everyone involved in bringing this independent British film to the screen and is another shining example of how Lottery funding has been able to make all the difference in supporting British film talent and producing a film which can be successful at home and abroad.”