Paramount’s ‘Paranormal Activity 4’
debuted at number one this weekend with 30.2 million dollars, which was a big drop from the 40-and 50-million-dollar openings of the last two instalments.
“We’re thrilled,” said Don Harris, Paramount’s president of domestic distribution.
The new ‘Paranormal’ chronicles the strange events that haunt a neighborhood after a woman and her young son move in.
As in the earlier films, the movie uses a “found footage” style by capturing mysterious encounters with invisible forces on surveillance cameras.
Perpetual hit maker Tyler Perry failed to find an audience for his new persona as ace crime solver in Summit Entertainment’s ‘Alex Cross’, which opened at number five with 11.8 million dollars.
Ben Affleck’s Iran hostage tale ‘Argo’ held up well in its second weekend, remaining at number two with 16.6 million dollars, dropping just 15 percent from its debut, the New York Post reported.
Liam Neeson’s action sequel ‘Taken 2’, which topped the previous two weekends, slipped to fourth-place with 13.4 million dollars, lifting the 20th Century Fox release’s domestic haul to 106 million dollars.
Adam Sandler’s animated hit ‘Hotel Transylvania’ also held up well at number three with 13.5 million dollars, pushing its domestic earnings to 119 million dollars.
In limited release, Fox Searchlight’s acclaimed drama ‘The Sessions’ did solid business and opened with 121,005 dollars in four theatres in NY and LA.
The top 10 movies at the weekend box office were:
Paranormal Activity 4 – 30.2 million dollars
Argo – 16.6 million dollars
Hotel Transylvania – 13.5 million dollars
Taken 2 – 13.4 million dollars
Alex Cross – 11.8 million dollars
Sinister – 9 million dollars
Here Comes the Boom – 8.5 million dollars
Pitch Perfect – 7 million dollars
Frankenweenie – 4.4 million dollars
Looper – 4.2 million dollars (ANI)