Kingdom of Heaven takes US by storm

Sir Ridley Scott's Kingdom Of Heaven, starring Orlando Bloom, shot straight to the top of the US box office chart.

The epic, in which 12th-century Muslims battle Christians for control of Jerusalem, took an estimated £10.5 million (20 million dollars) in ticket sales.

But despite its success, it failed to stump an 11-week box office downturn and paled in comparison with other blockbusters marking the start of the summer season.