Ben Miller, Rowan Atkinson and Natalie Imbruglia star

Spy comedy Johnny English has become a runaway success at box offices around the world, it has been reported.

The spoof, starring Mr Bean star Rowan Atkinson, remained at the top of the UK and German film charts for a second week, as well as scoring big successes in South East Asia, according to film website ScreenDaily.com.

It has taken $50m (£32m) around the globe, ScreenDaily said - and is not even released in the United States until July.

The film sees Atkinson play a hapless spy who has to save the nation from evil French mogul Pascal Sauvage, played by John Malkovich.

Directed by Sliding Doors film-maker Peter Howitt, it also stars singer Natalie Imbruglia.

It earned $4m (£2.5m) in the UK over the Easter weekend to take its total in the country to $13.6m (£8.7m), ScreenDaily said.

Record-breaking

In Singapore and Malaysia, it scored the biggest ever industry comedy openings.

And in Hong Kong, it took the top spot as film fans flocked to cinemas despite the Sars outbreak.

It was also a hit in Thailand and the Philippines.

It stayed on top in Austria and was the number two film in Australia and New Zealand, according to ScreenDaily.

When it opened in the UK on 11 April, it had the second most successful opening of the year - only 8 Mile starring rapper Eminem had a better start.

Its success follows Atkinson's 1997 worldwide smash Bean, which took $232m (£148m).