FilmFour has acquired all UK rights to Woody Allen's Small Time Crooks from Sweetland Films, marking the distributor's first theatrical release of an Allen film.

The picture opened through DreamWorks in the US last month and has grossed $15m to date. The first weekend gross was the biggest ever for an Allen film.

The caper comedy stars Allen as small time loser Ray Winkler and Tracey Ullman as his aspirational wife and former exotic dancer, Frenchy. Also starring are Michael Rapaport, Hugh Grant, Jon Lovitz, Elaine May and Elaine Stritch.

"Being in bed with Woody Allen, at least metaphorically, has been a life-long ambition," said FilmFour chief Paul Webster. "Now we're in there, I hope this is simply the start of something big for FilmFour and Mr Allen."