Like it's predecessor Taken 3, or Tak3n as it's known, debuts at the top of the box office on it's debut week of release.

Tak3n's debut in the UK makes an excellent £6.7 on it's debut weekend, it's predecessor, Taken 2, took £7.3 million on it's debut while Taken, a sleeper hit, took £1.1 million.

Tak3n knocks last week top film, The theory of Everything down to number 3 this week, the Stephen Hawkins bio-pic has now taken nearly £8 million.

Entering at 2 is Disney's latest film Into The Woods while The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies and Paddington finish of the top 5.

Historical box office

A year ago - 12 Years A Slave was the debut top film of the week among major Oscar buzz, it knocked American Hustle down to number 2.

Five years ago - Avatar spent yet another week at the top of the box office while the top new film of the week was Daybreakers at number 3.

Ten years ago - White Noise made it's debut at the top of the box office knocking The Incredibles from the top to number 4.

Fifteen years ago - Tim Burtons Sleepy Hollow made it's debut at the top of the box office, it finally knocked long running number 1 film The World Is Not Enough off the top spot, it was at number 2.

Frozen releases its grip on the Blu-ray/DVD charts this week to allow Anchorman 2 The Legend Continues to enter the chart at the top on its debut week of release.

Anchorman 2 which stars Will Farrell was, after much hype, released at the box office on 20th December last year, not performing as well as expected the film entered the box office at 2, behind The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, with a £4.5 million weekend gross. It spent 5 weeks on the chart taking £14 million in UK grosses.

Last week's top film, Frozen, falls just a single place to 2 this week.

Other new releases this week are - American Hustle (3) - Mandela Long Walk to Freedom (5) - All Is Lost (11)

American Hustle gives way to the big award contender 12 Years A Slave at the top of the UK box office this week.

Winning big at the weekends Golden Globe awards will help 12 Years a Slave retain the top spot next week, but this week it's the highest new film at the top with £2.5 million. American Hustle slips to two with £2 million.

This time last year Les Miserable took over at the top of the box office with The Hobbit sliding right down to number 4.

Five years ago comedy film Role Models hit the top in it's first week of release with Yes Man sliding to 5. A big week of releases with Slumdog Millionaire at 2, Bride Wars at 3 and Defiance at 4.

Ten years ago The Return of the King was still holding out at the top with Tom Cruise in the Last Samurai highest new film at 2.

Ten years ago Star Trek Insurrection was still at the top with The Siege entering at 3.