The debut was $17 million more than many analysts projected and trounced the record held by 2004’s The Grudge, the previous highest-opening horror film with $39 million.
The 12th film to spring from the 1980 original is good news for studios rushing to reboot classic horror titles. Remakes of A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Wolf Man and The Last House on the Left are headed to the big screen.
The romantic comedy He’s Just Not That Into You was second with $19.6 million, bringing its 10-day total to $55.1 million.
The thriller Taken also held well, taking third place with $19.3 million. The Liam Neeson picture has done $77.9 million in three weeks.
The Isla Fisher comedy Confessions of a Shopaholic met most expectations with $15.4 million, good for fourth place, while the animated Coraline took $15.3 million and fifth place.
The only other major newcomer, Clive Owen’s political thriller The International, was seventh with $10 million, meeting most projections.
Ticket sales surged 28% over last weekend and 43% over the same weekend last year.
Final figures are due Tuesday because of the Presidents Day weekend.
Top 10 box office for Feb. 13-Feb. 15
|
Friday the 13th
|
||
|
2
|
He’s Just Not That Into You
|
|
|
3
|
Taken
|
|
|
4
|
Confessions of a Shopaholic |
|
|
5
|
Coraline |
|
|
6
|
Paul Blart: Mall Cop |
|
|
7
|
|
The International |
|
8
|
The Pink Panther 2 Weekend gross: $9M
|
|
|
9
|
Slumdog Millionaire |
|
|
10
|
Push |
|