<em>Spud</em> soars to number one slot

Johannesburg - Spud the movie soared to the number one spot at the box office this weekend, earning close to R2.9m, Nu Metro said on Monday.

"This has made it the highest grossing opening weekend ever for a South African film outside of four Schuster titles," said Nu Metro spokesperson Heather Vorster.

"It's exciting to see South Africans coming to the cinemas in these numbers, and gratifying for the whole team to hear about audiences around the country applauding at the end of the movie," said producer Ross Garland.

Author of the book on which the film is based, John van de Ruit, said: "I salute all the South African Spud fans who have voted with their feet...May the madness continue!"

Spud takes place during John "Spud" Milton's first year at an elite boy's only private school in South Africa during the early 1990's.

"Cursed with parents from well beyond the lunatic fringe, a senile granny, and a dormitory full of strange characters, "Spud" has to forge a new life for himself in this foreign and sometimes hostile environment."

The movie was filmed at Michaelhouse in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.

It stars Troye Sivan as Spud, John Cleese as The Guv, Jason Cope as Sparerib and Tanit Phoenix as Eve.

The movie was released across South Africa on December 3.