At the UK box office this week there is a first for UK cinema, the single day screening of Billy Elliot the musical, screened live at cinemas across the country tops the box office.

Event cinema has become bigger and bigger in the UK over the last couple of years, Back to the Future this August was massive and Doctor Who has had a couple, none so far have come close to Billy Elliot's £1.9 million gross.

Surprisingly it beats into second place the much anticipated The Equalizer starring Denzel Washington, it was a close race but the 80's TV show remake's gross of £1.89 million was just shy of the number 1 film.

Two other film entered the box office this week inside the top 15 - What We Did On Our Holiday at 4 - Maps to the Stars at number 15

Historical Charts

This time last year Prisoners took over at the top from Ron Howard's Rush which went back to number 2 after a single week at the top.

Five years ago the remake of 70's classic Fame hit the box office summit on it's debut week knocking Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs after a week at the top.

Ten years ago it was all change at the top end of the box office with Wimbledon taking the number 1 spot knocking Collateral down to 3.

Fifteen years ago The Haunting made it's debut at the top while Eyes Wide Shut fell to the 3rd positon after a couple of weeks at the top.

Last weekend The Boxtrolls managed to keep a very slender lead ahead of Liam Neeson in a tightly fought battle for the top.

The Boxtrolls makes it 2 weeks at the top, this week with no advanced screenings, but it still manages to retain a £1.33 million weekend and £3.6 million from 10 days of release.

Highest new entry for the week is A Walk Among the Tombstones starring Liam Neeson reprising a role for which he seems to have found a nice since his starring in Taken.

Tombstones narrowly missed out the the top spot by about £15 million, taking £1.31 for the weekend, with The Equaliser being released on Friday it will likely not get it's day at the top.

Also new this week are -

• The Riot Club at 5
• 20,000 Days On Earth at 8
• Magic In The Moonlight at 12
• The Giver at 14
• Khoobsurat at 15

Historical box office

This time last year Ron Howard's Rush was still topping the box office with the highest new film right down at 5 in the shape of Diana.

Five years ago Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs was the new film at the top knocking District 9 down to second place.

Ten years ago Tom Cruise went serious in Collateral knocking Open Water down to second after a single week on top.

Fifteen years ago The Generals Daughter entered in second place while Eyes Wide Shut stayed at the top for a second week.