"Next" opens at top of British box office

LONDON, May 1 (Reuters) ''Next,'' Nicolas Cage's second superhero movie in two months after ''Ghost Rider,'' became Britain's most popular film over the weekend, according to Screen International figures.

The thriller about a man who can see two minutes into the future took only a modest 795,012 pounds but went in straight at the top of the UK box office, knocking John Travolta's biker movie ''Wild Hogs'' down into second place.

Third, down one place was ''Fracture,'' starring Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling facing each other in a courtroom drama.

At four, down only one place after five weeks on release in Britain, was ''Mr Bean's Holiday'' which has now taken 20.4 million pounds in its hugely successful run.

Fifth down from four was ''Blades of Glory,'' with Will Ferrell and Jon Heder as a pair of rival figure skaters.

At No. 6, also down one, was ''Alpha Dog'' with Justin Timberlake and Sharon Stone in a tale of teenage would-be gangsters from California.

New at seven was ''The Painted Veil,'' the story of a young English couple in the 1920s who marry in haste, deceive each other in Hong Kong and find an unexpected chance of happiness during a journey to China.

Eighth, down two places, was ''Shooter'' with Mark Wahlberg as a former Marine Corps sniper on a mission of revenge.

New at nine was a Bollywood movie shot almost entirely in the United States, ''Ta Ra Rum Pum,'' while down one place in 10th spot was the highly acclaimed drama set in communist East Berlin, ''The Lives of Others.'' REUTERS KD KP1711