In a statement, Vue's CEO, Tim Richards, said the firm had entered a "far-reaching agreement" with Disney. "We are delighted that we have reached an agreement with our partners at Disney," he said.

"This is a win-win for everyone in the entertainment business and in particular for our customers by offering greater film choice."

The decision means the film will be shown in Vue's 69 cinemas across the country. Cineworld, the UK's second largest exhibitor, will also show the movie in its 77 cinemas.

Odeon, however, which has more than 100 cinemas in the UK, is not playing ball. The firm fears Disney's proposals would inevitably lead to a standard 12-week window for most films in the UK, cutting the time – and, presumably, the revenues – that exhibitors have come to rely on. Disney, however, has argued that the vast majority of a particular film's audience have seen it within two months. Keeping the window to its usual 17-week minimum, it suggests, only serves to play into the hands of pirates.

Some cynics have suggested that Disney's actions may spring from its concern over Alice in Wonderland's critical reception. Burton's film, which stars Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska and a host of British talent such as Helena Bonham Carter, Stephen Fry and Alan Rickman, is currently under a review embargo, but the word in the blogosphere is that it could be in for a kicking when that lifts in the runup to the UK and US release date of 5 March.