The sci-fi thriller, directed by Steven Spielberg, took over £3.8m in cinemas across the British Isles between Friday and Sunday, according to Screen International.

Set in 2054, it stars Cruise as a police chief whose officers arrest potential criminals before crimes are even committed.

UK/ Ireland top 5

1) Minority Report: £3.8m 2) Spider-Man: £1.4m 3) Spirit: £719,000 4) Murder By Numbers: £376,000 5) Star Wars Ep II: £318,000 Source: Screen International

British actress Samantha Morton stars as one of the "Pre-cogs" who see images of a murder in Cruise's mind, sending him on the run.

Including the film's opening on Thursday, Minority Report took £4.5m over its first four days.

Superhero film Spider-Man falls to second place, having taken £1.4m in its fourth week of release.

The comicbook adaptation has taken £23.8m in its four weeks on release in the British Isles.

DreamWorks' animated adventure Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron comes in at third, after taking £720,000 over its first weekend.

Narrated by Matt Damon, it follows a horse who is destined to lead his herd - but finds himself led astray when he is captured by humans.

Thriller Murder By Numbers - starring Sandra Bullock and based on a 1924 killing in Chicago - slips to number four.

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack Of The Clones is at number five, two months after its release.

It has now taken £36.5m at cinemas across the UK and Ireland.

Tom Cruise's reign at the top may not last long - the live-action version of TV cartoon Scooby-Doo opens on Friday.