Little-horror-movie-that-could Paranormal Activity continues to defy all box office rules, leaping to the number one spot at the box office on Friday with an estimated $7.6 million — in its fifth weekend in theaters. Okay, technically, it’s the ultra-low-budget flick’s first weekend opening in a true wide release (1,945 theaters), but it still managed to snag enough horror fans to force Saw VI into the second spot with $7 million, well below the opening-day take of every Saw film since the first one. None of the other new releases this weekend are faring well, either: Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant dug up $2.2 million for seventh place, the animated sci-fi action film Astro Boy struggled mightily with just $1.8 million for eighth place, and the biopic Amelia landed outside the top 10, with $1.3 million in 818 theaters. Be sure to check back here tomorrow for the full box-office report.
1. Paranormal Activity – $7.6 million
2. Saw VI — $7 million
3. Where the Wild Things Are — $4.4 million
4. Law Abiding Citizen — $4.1 million
5. Couples Retreat — $3.7 million
More from EW:
Saw: Is jig up for Jigsaw?
Saw VI, Paranormal Activity, more EW movie reviews
Giving people an alternative really killed Saw. If you add the $7.6 mil that Paranormal Activity made and the $7.0 mil that Saw made, you’d end up with a number close to the $14 mil that the lase 2 Saw movies made. Therefore, I wouldn’t say that Paranormal Activity slayed Saw, but I would say that it stole a lot of Saw’s horror fanbase.
Paranormal Activity is a well-made, creepy little horror flick.
The Saw movies haven’t been any good since the 3rd one.
Explanation Done.
That was implied in my take. And I’d go as far to say that the Saw movies were never very good.
they were never VERY good, but they were somewhat good. the series could’ve ended at 3, and it would’ve been respected a whole lot more
should have ended after movie number one
Paranormal Activity looks great, I’m seeing it tonight. I know of no good sequals to horror movies, Saw VI is probably five too many
I just got back from watching Paranormal Activity. I am so glad I did not the lame pre-release act Pramount pulled keep me from seeing this movie. It was great! I highly suggest that anyone seeing a movie this weekend go see it!
scariest movie of the year. i usually keep my cool during movies like this, but ive never cried and shook so much while watching this
Cirque Du Freak is an awesome movie and should have done SO much better…. JESSICA CARLSON is WICKED, movie star coming through i think.
I love John C. Reily, but from watching the commercials I could not get if Cirque Du Freak was trying to be a comedy, a scary movie or something in between.
Also, it kind of looked like a made for TV movie.
Thats a huge drop for Where the wild things are. I guess many parents decided against taking their kids to this film.
It’s just proof that you dont need ridiculously bloody gore to produce a good scare. I think alot of audiences expect more than that and Paranormal Activity lives to the challenge. Far scarier than any Saw movie (not counting the acting)
“leaping to the number 1 spot”???
Sorry guys, it’s been #1 since Tuesday, when it was on 1200 less screens.
Wow .6 million. Uh not exactly slaying people. I just got home from seeing Saw 6 which was pretty much better then Paranormal Activity. Paranormal Activity lacked proper character build up and lacked the scares compare to those at the end. Saw 6 had your attention the whole time with some of the best twist in the series. So on Sunday I look to Saw 6 coming back and slaying Paranormal Activity.
Yes Scott, I’m sure many people go to the SAW movies to see proper, well-done character build up.
Or just to see random people die in gruesome ways. Either/or.
never have John C. Reily star in a movie, it will flop, one the biggest flops of year it seems, won’t even earn half its budget back
Americans sent an important message to the movie studios this weekend. They actually want scary movies as opposed to twisted torture horror. And parents across the country, after getting the 411 last Friday, are also deciding in droves ( a +60% drop) to keep the kids away from that freaky looking Wild Things flick.
I agree, Matt2. One of the reasons Hitchcock was so great was because he made “scary” movies opposed to movies that contained “twisted torture horror.” There really wasn’t much violence in such movies like The Birds or Psycho, but there was a lot of suspence. It would be great if Hollywood would start making more movies like Hitchcock. I mean, how many times do we have to see someone get their head sawed off?
The Saw franchise is a JOKE. Seriously, what self-respecting horror film fan enjoys them?
i wouldn’t call them horror fans, i would call them gore fans. i know a few, and they love 1) the crazy and creative ways to provide gore, and 2) the pyschological aspect of the whole thing. you have to remember, when Saw first came out, it screwed with EVERYONE’S head’s.
SAW VI is the best one since SAW II, but since IV & V were terrible, people didn’t have a desire to rush out and see this one…too bad, it really delivered.
the Saw movies have just been overkilled for the last several movies. Even my avid Saw-fan friends are saying it’s ridiculous and that the movies, though still containing creative and grusome deaths, are less shocking now then they were originally. Paranormal Activity is a movie that looks REAL, not just realistic. It’s a great alternative to Saw, and it didn’t have to use guts and gore to be awesome. People want to see what it’s about.