Buena Vista International scored a strong weekend for its CIA thriller The Recruit over the weekend with number one openings recorded in four European territories. The UK, Italy, Belgium and The Netherlands all awarded the film, which stars Al Pacino and Colin Farrell, with a lead position.

The UK and Ireland saw The Recruit take $1.4m (£920,472) from 381 sites for a weekend average of $3,787. The film took the top spot after expanding from its one screen platform at the Odeon Leicester Square the previous week and has earned $1.5m to date.

In Italy the title also cleared $1m - $1.1m (Euro 994,906) to be exact. It played on 241 screens in the country for an average of $4,439 per screen.

Belgium added $298,781 (Euro 277,866) to BVI's coffers from 55 screens and a five-day weekend average of $5,432. Including previews The Recruit, which beat fellow opener Maid In Manhattan ($227,006) to the Belgian lead, has a cumulative gross of $408,661.

A $335,246 (Euros 311,779) four-day weekend for Roger Donaldson's latest in The Netherlands also scored a number one placing from 65 screens - a good average of $5,158. It has taken $395,356 including previews in the territory.

The Recruit grossed $52m in North America to date and $2.2m (A$3.5m) in Australia. It is still playing in Spain, Mexico, South Korea and New Zealand. It opens next weekend in Sweden, Brazil, Argentina, Israel and the Philippines.