The critics turned their noses up at the recent Max Payne movie starring Marky Wahlberg but it appears that the star himself may have been right when he suggested that it was aimed at gamers.

The American public, you see, has voted with its feet. Instead of going to have its liberal feelings pampered or its right-wing ire invoked by watching Oliver Stone's drama about the incumbent US President, in the movie W, they flocked to see Mark as Max.

Yup, Whalberg's outing grossed $18m (£10.2m) at US multiplexes this weekend. All Stone's topical George W Bush bio-pic (or assassination depending on your outlook) could stump-up was $10.6m (£6.15m).

Too political? Too serious? Easy win? Well, Max Payne also managed to beat Beverly Hills Chihuahua and Secret Life of Bees to the Number 1 spot. So, it's got to be great!