Shrek out-muscles Bruce Willis at UK box office

LONDON, July 11 (Reuters) Shrek has beaten Die Hard in the battle of the blockbuster sequels to keep the top spot at the UK box office for a second week.

''Shrek the Third'' saw off a strong challenge from ''Die Hard 4.0'', the fourth testosterone-fuelled outing for Bruce Willis' maverick detective John McClane.

In a tight contest, the green ogre took just over 5 million pounds at the weekend, barely 80,000 pounds more than Die Hard, according to Screen International. The top six films were all sequels.

''Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer'', a former number one in which a group of superheroes fights to save the planet, slipped to third.

Casino caper ''Ocean's Thirteen'', featuring George Clooney and Brad Pitt, dropped to fourth.

''Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End'' was another faller at number five. It has grossed nearly 40 million pounds in Britain since its release.

At six was horror film ''Hostel: Part II'', while Bollywood boxing drama ''Apne'' was a non-mover at seven.

''La Vie en Rose'', a biopic of French singer Edith Piaf, starring Marion Cotillard in the lead role, fell two places to number eight.

French murder thriller ''Tell No One'' climbed one spot to ninth, while motel-based horror film ''Vacancy'' completed the top 10.

Reuters RSA GC0859