Madonna's movie Swept Away, which flopped in the United States and was savaged by critics, will not be released in the UK.

The film, directed by her husband Guy Ritchie, has taken barely $600,000 (�377,000) since its release last month.

The film was directed by Guy Ritche, Madonna's husband

It had been due to hit British cinema screens in March but will now go straight to video, the fate of many other ignominious releases.

"Following the disappointing box office results in the US, Guy Ritchie's Swept Away will not be released theatrically in the UK," a Columbia Tristar spokesman said.

A spokeswoman for the star said she had no comment.

Attacked

Swept Away took only $350,000 on its opening weekend but opened only 200 screens.

The New York Daily News described it as "amateurish", a "debacle" and a "new career low" for Madonna while the New York Times said the production was "soggy and superfluous".

The Washington Post said the film was "as awful as you've heard and as bad as you've imagined".

In the film Madonna plays a rich American who makes life miserable for a lowly Italian sailor, played by Adriano Giannini, on her luxury yacht.

The pair then find their relationship turned upside down when they are shipwrecked together on an island.

The film has been compared to Mariah Carey's Glitter, although it took more than four million dollars at the US box office.