Bend it like Beckham scores at box office

Bend It Like Beckham has exceeded all expectations by taking nearly £5 million at the box office in its first two weeks.

The film, about an Asian girl's dream to play football against her parent's wishes, grossed £2 million nationwide in its opening weekend - and its box office earnings in the first two weeks have eclipsed the likes of Billy Elliott, East Is East and The Full Monty for the same period.

While it has not been as successful in its opening weekend as Notting Hill or Bridget Jones's Diary, the film was made entirely using British money and did not rely on big-name movie stars.

Director Gurinder Chadha - who also directed the acclaimed films Bhaji On The Beach and What's Cooking? - said she was delighted by the initial figures.

She said: "I was really nervous at first and thought the cinemas where it was showing would be empty. But during the first weekend, practically every screening was sold out, which is unbelievable.

"We got some great reviews and we also got some not so great ones. But I tend to think that a review of a film usually tells you more about the person reviewing it than the film itself."

Film Council member Robert Jones said: "I'm really not surprised that the film has done as well as it has because it's very entertaining and a real audience pleaser."