Borat movie success takes US by surprise

Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen’s Borat movie has proved a surprise smash in the US, easily taking the number one spot on its debut despite opening in fewer than 900 cinemas.

The film featuring the spoof Kazakh journalist took $26.4m (€39.4m) on its opening weekend, defying industry insiders’ predictions that it would not be popular enough with mainstream audiences.