King Kong may have been snubbed at the Oscars and Baftas, but the lovestruck ape got his revenge last night by picking up the coveted best film gong at the Sony Ericsson Empire Awards.

Pride and Prejudice was named best British film, while animation wizards Steve Box and Nick Park collected the best director award for Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were Rabbit.

Thandie Newton won best actress for her role in Oscar-winning Crash and Johnny Depp best actor as Willy Wonka in Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.

The awards, chosen by readers of Empire magazine, are the only British film prizes voted for by the public.

The ceremony, hosted by comic Bill Bailey, was attended by celebrities including footballer Sol Campbell, singer Will Young and actors Daniel Radcliffe, Roger Moore and James Nesbitt.

Team America: World Police won best comedy, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang best thriller and The Descent best horror.

The birth of Darth Vader in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of The Sith picked up the scene of the year award.

Empire boss Colin Kennedy said: 'Many of our winners will never trouble the Academy but ask any real movie fan - horror films don't come more terrifying than The Descent and few scenes rival the historical impact of Darth Vader's birth.'

The Harry Potter franchise was recognised for its 'outstanding contribution to British cinema' during the event at the Hilton London Metropole.

The four films made so far have grossed more than £2 billion worldwide, and a fifth film is on the way.