The King’s Speech enjoyed a three-week reign at the top of the UK box-office, but the challenge of new Disney animation Tangled proved too strong, given its £5m-plus opening, and so moves down to make way.

The Tangled result follows similar success in many international territories, notably Germany and France, where it’s taken 26.4million Euros and 22.8million Euros respectively. The Rapunzel-themed film represents a major recovery for Walt Disney Animation Studios, after last year’s commercially disappointing Princess And The Frog, which was presented in traditional 2D animation.

The King’s Speech dips a modest 14%, the natural pace of decline presumably arrested by a renewed burst of publicity on the back of last week’s 12 Oscar nominations, and wins at the Directors Guild and Screen Actors Guild awards. Fellow awards contender Black Swan falls an even gentler 6%.

Both films will do well to maintain this slow burnout pace this weekend with the arrival of The Fighter, and again a week later with True Grit. The King’s Speech has now taken nearly £25m after just 24 days, while Black Swan has exceeded £7m in less than half that time.

Three other new films made the top 10. Jason Statham hitman flick The Mechanic did best, with a solid debut of £922,000 – towards the top end for films featuring the actor as the principal selling point. Clint Eastwood’s Hereafter managed a less-impressive £602,000, hampered by discouraging reviews and a lack of attention for the afterlife-themed film from awards-giving bodies.

Least successful of all is James L Brooks’ latest comedy How Do You Know, starring Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson and Jack Nicholson, which opened to a disappointing £375,000. Production budget is a rumoured $100m, and at this point looks set to be a significant cash loser for backers Sony.

UK Top 10 (up to 30 January)

1. Tangled, £5.11m (New)
2. The King’s Speech, £3.63m (4 weeks in chart. Total: £24.91m)
3. Black Swan, £2.57m (2 weeks in chart. Total: £7.31m)
4. The Mechanic, £922k (New)
5. The Dilemma, £669k (2 weeks in chart. Total: £2.29m)
6. The Green Hornet, £656k (3 weeks in chart. Total: £4.91m)
7. Hereafter, £602k (New)
8. Gulliver’s Travels, £585k (5 weeks in chart. Total: £14.50m)
9. 127 Hours, £409k (4 weeks in chart. Total: £6.61m)
10. How Do You Know, £375k (New)

– moviefone.co.uk