The third of the teen favourite High School Musical series has shot to the top of the UK box office with one of the biggest opening takes of the year, according to Screen International.

"High School Musical 3: Senior Year," with Zac Efron, Vanessa Anne Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale brought in 5.95 million pounds over the weekend for an 8.4 million total with Wednesday and Thursday openings.

The latest in the hugely popular dance-school series, originally made for television, proved far too strong for the week's other big new newcomer, horror movie "Saw V," which came in at No. 2 with a weekend total of 2.4 million pounds.

Last week's chart-topper "Burn after Reading," with Brad Pitt and George Clooney in a tale of health club blackmail, was down at three.

Comedian Ricky Gervais was new at four with "Ghost Town," the story of a cantankerous dentist given a sudden glimpse into the mundane realities of the afterlife.

Terrorist thriller "Eagle Eye" was down three places at five while the animated tale of evil scientists "Igor" slipped three places to six.

Also down three was Playboy-themed comedy "The House Bunny," at seven, with Liam Neeson in kidnap drama "Taken" down at eight from six.

Ninth, down just one and now 16 weeks in the Top 10, was Abba-themed musical "Mamma Mia!" which has taken 64.9 million pounds in its long and lucrative UK run.

At 10, down from five, was the week's biggest faller, horror movie "Mirrors."

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