'War of the Worlds' delight for Cruise's birthday

Tom Cruise celebrated his 43rd birthday at the top of the United States box office this weekend as War of the Worlds raked in $101.7m (€85.5m).

Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of HG Wells’s classic novel was the clear leader of the pack as cinema-goers made the most of the Independence Day holiday weekend.

The haul makes it the second biggest opener this year, topped only by Star Wars which took a record $172.8m (€145.2m) in its first five days.

War of the Worlds has made $204.2m (€171.6m) worldwide since its release.

The sci-fi adventure focuses on an alien invasion of Earth and one family’s fight to survive. It was first turned into a movie in 1953, winning an Oscar for its special effects.

Newly-engaged Cruise turned 43 yesterday.