Paddington tops UK box office

StudioCanal’s Paddington has debuted at the top of the UK box office.

The bear’s big screen outing made £5.1m to knock The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 off the top spot.

Screen reports that Paddington also marks StudioCanal’s best-ever debut at the UK box office, topping Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’s £2.81m bow.

Paddington’s debut is even greater than Frozen’s first weekend takings of £4.7m.

The bear faces competition for the family ticket this weekend in Get Santa and Penguins of Madagascar, both opening on Friday.