Clint Eastwood is riding high on the wave of critical success and award success, and celebrates his Oscar nominated film by seeing it top the UK box office.

He now manages the double of having the top film in the UK and America at the same time, and if Oscar night is fruitful it could see American Sniper do some really big business.

This week the film, on it's 3rd week of release, takes £2.5 million giving it a UK total gross of £6.6 million, it's world gross is $252 million to date.

Tak3n falls from the top spot after 2 week in the position, a £1.8 million weekend brings it's total gross to £15,1million.

Ex Machina is the highest new film of the week at 5, a £1.1 million weekend is quite weak but the Alex Garland film has had really good reviews which could help it in future weeks.

Also new this week is: Mortdecai disappointingly at 7 and The Gambler at 8.

Historical charts

A year ago - The Wolf of Wall Street was still holding onto the number 1 spot for another week while Jack Ryan Shadow Recruit was the highest new film at 3.

Five years ago - There was still no moving the might of Avatar at the top and with a fairly static chart Brothers was the highest new film at number 9!

Ten years ago - Closer stayed at the top of the box office and again with little movement on the chart Elektra was the highest new film at number 6.

Fifteen years ago - Sleepy Hollow stayed at the top of the box office with the highest new film coming in at number 3 in the shape of Stigmata.

Staying put this week, Tak3n makes it 2 weeks at the top of the UK box office despite a challenge from the new Clint Eastwood film.

Liam Neeson has become the action hero of the moment with Taken 3 taking another £3.3 million from the weekend which brings it's total to £12.2 million after 10 days.

The threequel is keeping well in line with the previous film in the series but it already double that of the first films full UK cinema run.

Debuting strong at number 2 is American Sniper which enters the Uk box office with a first weekend gross of £2.5 million, Oscar nomination are boosting it's potential and it could end up one of Eastwood's highest grossing films.

The theory of Everything, Into the Woods and Paddington wound out the top five.

Other new films this week are: Whiplash at 7, Wild at 9, The Merry Widow Met Opera 2015 at 10 and Testament of Youth at 11.

Historical charts

A year ago - The Wolf of Wall Street was the first new number 1 film of the year debuting in the top spot and knocking 12 Years A Slave into second place.

Five years ago - Avatar stayed on top for yet another week and the highest new film was Up In The Air right down at 5.

Ten years ago - Highest new film and new number 1 for the week was Closer which knocked White Noise from the top to number 3.

Fifteen years ago - Sleepy Hollow kept it's hold on the top of the box office where it entered the previous week, Angelas Ashes was the highest new film of the week at 2.

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.