UK Box Office Information 7th-9th September 2007

Proving to be the true athlete we always knew he was, Hot Fuzz star Simon Pegg has taken Run, Fat Boy, Run (Entertainment) into pole position, taking £1.8m on its opening weekend (excluding previews). Rather than being about the person who always gets picked last for the sports team in high school, Run, Fat Boy, Run sees Pegg as Dennis, a charming but overweight chap who ditched his pregnant girlfriend Libby (Thandie Newton) on their wedding day, only to realise years later that he really does love her. How does he choose to woo her back? Like most normal people would, he choses to run a marathon to prove that not only is he not a quitter, but also to show Libby why she should take him back over her new boyfriend (Hank Azaria). Will Dennis prove that good guys don't always finish last?

Having filmed 3 Pirates films back-to-back, Keira Knightley has opted for a more Oscar-worthy role in Atonement (Universal) which opened on £1.6m this weekend. Based on the Ian McEwan novel of the same name, and directed by Pride and Prejudice director Joe Wright, Atonement is the story of 13 year old Briony Tallis - a fledgeling writer who changes the course of several lives after accusing her older sister Cecilia's (Knightley) boyfriend (James McAvoy) of a crime he didn't commit. With an extraordinary 5 minute recreation of the Dunkirk beach landing, we can expect some little gold statues to be flying in the direction of Joe Wright and Co. come February!

The Bourne Ultimatum (Universal) is in 3rd place having broken the £20m mark after 4 weeks in the chart, whilst Knocked Up (Universal) is in 5th place with £6.5m. Stephen King's 1408 (Paramount) is in 5th place with £2.3m.

The third new entry into the chart this week is Dhamaal (Tip Top), taking £107k. A fun filled comic caper revolving around 4 friends, they pull off small con jobs to get by.

The last new entry into the charts sees some wannabee hardmen charting the rise of the notorious gang leader Carlton Leach in 1980s Essex. Rise of the Footsoldier (Optimum) opened in 14th place with £86k on it's opening weekend and follows three decades of Leach's life from football thug, to bouncer and eventually to becoming one of the most feared gang leaders in London. Scary stuff!

Interesting film fact of the day: Run, Fat Boy, Run is the directorial debut for Friends star David Schwimmer

Source: Carlton Screen Advertising