PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2 wins weekend box office, is now biggest horror opener ever
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2 handily scared up the biggest R-rated midnight showing of all time on Thursday night, and the sequel has now won the weekend box office, smashing high expectations of pulling in $30 million. The film is now expected to ring in the weekend with numbers pushing $43 million (check back on Monday for updated and confirmed numbers), with Box Office Mojo currently marking its earnings as $41.5 million. In any case, the film is now the biggest horror opening ever (the record was previously held by FRIDAY THE 13TH, with $40.5 million). The film is also the number 5 opener for October and fall weekends.
Last weekend's number one, JACKASS 3D, hung in at second place. The boys of the 'assery made $21.6 million, bringing its total haul to just over $87 million. With the number one and two movies at the box office, and relatively small budgets to earn back, I have a feeling the kids over at Paramount will have some massive celebrations to look forward to this week.
The weekend did not see any other brand-new opener to darken its theater screens, but a number of limited releases expanded. HEREAFTER saw the biggest change, and added 2,175 screens, moving out of just New York City and Los Angeles, enough to bring it to just fourth place. CONVICTION added 44 screens, placing it down in twenty-fourth place. Other expanding films included TAMARA DREWE, THE TILLMAN STORY, STONE, INSIDE JOB, and YOU WILL MEET A TALL DARK STRANGER.
In a relatively quiet opening weekend, PA2 seemed the easy choice. What did you see?
Source Box Office Mojo, Deadline
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