The film, which stars Tom Hardy as both Ronnie and Reggie Kray, the infamous twins who terrorised London's underworld in the 1960s, took $8.3 million (£5.2 million) in its opening weekend (11-13Sep15), the highest debut for an 18-rated British movie.

Two more new entries debuted in second and third, as young adult sci-fi Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials made $4.5 million (£2.8 million) and comedy horror The Visit took $1.6 million (£1 million).

The previous number one film, rap biopic Straight Outta Compton ($1 million/£630,000), dropped to fourth, while Disney's Inside Out ($975,000/£610,000) clung on in fifth.