Regular readers of this column will know that we're very happy with today's weekend box-office estimates, with Paranormal Activity hitting the #1 spot for the first time, taking $21.10M for a five week total of $61.58M. Remarkable.
Saw VI, generally regarded as an improvement over previous sequels, came in second with a disappointing $14.11M, the worst of the franchise. However, as usual, this needs to be viewed in light of its budget, a slim $11M and the fact that a Saturday Halloween will give this legs through next weekend. Where the Wild Things Are dropped a precipitous 57%, with $14.01M, for a two week total of $53.55M, seemingly bearing out critic's concerns about its appeal to the younger audience – it will be interesting to see how the similarly reviewed Fantastic Mr Fox fares when it is released on 25th November (look for a review here in the next day or so).
Law Abiding Citizen and Couples Retreat maintained, down 41% and 38% respectively, but at #6, Astro Boy proved to have limited appeal with only $6.70M on a $65M budget. The week's biggest disappointment is Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant, which could only scare up $6.29M at #7, giving it a long way to go to make profit on its $40 investment. The Stepfather, held on reasonably well, down 46% to $6.23M for a two week total that roughly equals its $20M budget.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is proving that weird wins with the wee ones, holding the #9 position, a $5.25M take bringing its six week total to $114.85M. Zombieland is also proving resilient, down 724 sites and 45%, with $4.20M for a four week total of $67.21M from a $23.6M budget. The only other major release this week, aviatrix biopic Amelia, tanked at #11 with $3.90M, around 10% of its budget.
Meanwhile, further down the chart, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas in 3-D reissue pulled in $143,289 at 105 sites for the #35 slot, a disappointment given the investment taken to convert the 2-D original. Also taking a bow this week is Lars von Trier's controversial Antichrist at #42, chaos reigning on just six screens with a $71,397 take – an $11,900 per-screen average being the best of the week. Tony Jaa's Ong Bak 2: The Beginning also debuted, at #62 with $26,564 from 10 sites.
Next week's genre openings are festival favorites House of the Devil and Gentleman Broncos, as well as, erm, Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day, all up against Michael Jackson concert rehearsal This Is It.
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