Zhang Yimou's Asian actioner Hero surprised the tally counters this week by debuting in the number one spot on only 375 screens.

Clearly down to a residual effect coming off the success of films like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and France's keen taste for the genre, Hero also benefited from a wide-spread ad campaign with billboards boasting its arrival all over the country.

Up next is Denys Arcand's Cannes winner The Barbarian Invasions whose ad campaign was equally prolific and referred to Invasions' precursor The Decline Of The American Empire.

Still holding strong - having lost only 18% of its take - is last week's winner Jeux d'Enfants along with American films that popped up last week The Italian Job and Matchstick Men.

Continuing its sleeper run Goodbye, Lenin! jumped 6% from last week off great word of mouth and as an alternative option to all of the big names in the line-up.