Though its second place, $7 million Friday debut was disappointing, “Saw VI” was still in respectable territory. If one were to ignore the fact that “Paranormal Activity” was the first horror/thriller to defeat a “Saw” film in its Friday debut since “The Grudge” topped the first movie, $7 million was still a respectable number–assuming the film stayed on pace for the weekend.
“Saw VI” did not, and it opened to a franchise low $14.8 million this weekend. Considering the franchise’s annual dominance in pre-Halloween action, the film’s opening take is nothing if not a bomb.
“Paranormal Activity,” meanwhile, held strong with a $22 million finish for first place.
Joining “Saw” in the bomb category were “Astro Boy” ($7 million, 6th), “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant” ($6.4 million, 8th) and “Amelia” ($4 million, 11th). In other words, all new releases struggled at the box office this weekend.
Weekend Top Ten:
1) Paranormal Activity – $22 million ($62.5 million)
2) Saw VI – $14.8 million
3) Where the Wild Things Are – $14.4 million ($54 million)
4) Law Abiding Citizen – $12.7 million ($40.3 million)
5) Couples Retreat – $11.1 million ($78.2 million)
6) Astro Boy – $7 million
7) The Stepfather – $6.5 million ($20.4 million)
8) The Vampire’s Assistant – $6.4 million
9) Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs – $5.6 million ($115.2 million)
10) Zombieland – $4.3 million ($67.3 million)