The film, which stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Jason Clarke as guides on separate climbing teams fighting for survival on the world's tallest mountain, took $5 million (£3.2 million) in its first few days on release.

Legend, the Kray twins biopic, dropped to second with $3.8 million (£2.4 million), and third was Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, which made $2.4 million (£1.5 million).

Fourth was comedy horror The Visit ($776,000/£485,000), while still clinging on to fifth in its ninth week was Disney's Inside Out ($699,000/£437,000).