Paranormal Activity Scares Up Top Spot at Box Office
Katie Featherston in Paranormal Activity
In a weekend battle of horror flicks, Paranormal Activity scared up more box office than the sixth installment of the steadfast Saw franchise.
VIDEO: Get the story behind horror sensation Paranormal Activity
The low-budget, high-buzz thriller, which cost about $15,000 to make and has become a word-of-mouth sensation, took in some $22 million, bringing its total to $62.5 million in 31 days. Paranormal Activity was shown on about 2,500 screens at nearly 2,000 sites over the weekend — double last weekend's count.
Saw VI debuted in the second slot with $14.8 million, the lowest of any in the series. The previous low: $18.3 million, when the first film opened five years ago. Though the Saw franchise has been on the decline since peaking with Saw II, each sequel has managed to reap more than $30 million during opening weekends — until now.
VIDEO: Saw VI's Tobin Bell Reveals Favorite Torture Scene
Falling 56 percent to No. 3 was the Maurice Sendak children's book adaptation Where the Wild Things Are with $14.4 million. Jamie Foxx Law Abiding Citizen came in fourth, grossing $12.7 million, and the Vince Vaughn comedy Couple's Retreat fell to No. 5 with $11.1 million.
Other new releases included the sci-fi animation flick Astro Boy, which took in $7 million (No. 6); John C. Riley's Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant, which grossed $6.3 million (No. 8); and the quietly launched Hilary Swank biopic Amelia, which didn't break the top 10 with $4 million.
Rounding out the top 10: The Stepfather (No. 7; $6.5 million); Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (No. 9; $5.6 million) and Zombieland (No. 10; $4.3 million).
