Ender’s Game enjoyed a triumphant opening this weekend, topping the U.S Box Office charts; this despite a campaign for people to boycott the film due to Orsen Scott-Card – the author of the book upon which the film is based – and his homophobic views on gay marriage.

Ender's Game
Harrison Ford gives Asa Butterfield something to think about in Ender's Game

The film, which stars Harrison Ford and Ben Kingsley, attracted enough die hard Sci Fi fans intrigued to see what Gavin Hood had done with the seminal novel. But the film wasn’t really facing any serious competition, with Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa coming second, $7.5m behind Ender’s $28m.

Read our review for Ender's Game

The critically mauled Last Vegas – starring movie legends Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Michael Douglas – opened to a meek $16.5m, placing it third.

"It's interesting to see the number of stars that are not in their 20s in the top films,” Rentrak's Paul Dergarabedian. "Ender's Game has Harrison Ford and Viola Davis, and Last Vegas is like a Hangover for the older crowd. Sandra Bullock and George Clooney - in Gravity - appeal to an older audience, and 12 Years a Slave... is a very sophisticated drama."

Check out our review of Thor: The Dark World

But while Ender’s Game proved triumphant on its debut weekend, its success could be short lived with Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World opening this Friday, Nov 8. Starring Chris Hemsworth as the Nordic, hammer-wielding hero, Thor has been a hit with the critics so far.

“It's as action-packed and visually spectacular as any of its Marvel stablemates - and arguably the funniest of the lot,” said Seb Patrick of Film4.

Ender's Game - boycott the book or the film?

With a ‘certified fresh’ rating of 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, and a wave of good faith on the back of Marvel’s recent film triumphs, Thor is expected to dominate the box office next weekend, leaving Ender’s Game with a monolithic task if it wants to keep its top spot.

Watch the trailer for Thor: The Dark World