1. "Michael Jackson's This Is It" ($21.3 million)
2. "Paranormal Activity" ($16.5 million)
3. "Law Abiding Citizen" ($7.3 million)
3. "Couples Retreat" ($6.1 million)
5. "Saw VI" ($5.6 million)
Would-be moviegoers opted for a weekend filled with trick-or-treating, costume partying and other similar shenanigans in celebration of Saturday night's Halloween, with a select few heading into movie theaters as a way to embrace the holiday. But it wasn't the ghost and slasher-heavy horror flicks that won the weekend — instead, "Michael Jackson's This Is It" commanded the box office with a $21.3 million first place finish.
"This Is It" has amassed $32.5 million since opening last Wednesday, which is a far cry from the $250 million concert promoter AEG predicted the movie would make in its first five days, as Deadline Hollywood Daily reported. AEG and film distributor Sony anticipated so much success that they marketed "This Is It" as a two week limited engagement, a short run that would have ensured the Michael Jackson documentary's relatively disappointing financial outcome — if Sony had kept that promise, that is.
According to Deadline Hollywood, Sony will extend the theatrical run of "This Is It" through November's Thanksgiving weekend, allegedly due to the widely positive reactions from fans and critics alike. While the movie was well-received, there's no doubt that Sony is hoping to milk all the cash that this cow has to offer, which almost certainly won't be as much as the studio initially expected.
The Halloween spirit was better represented in the second place finisher, "Paranormal Activity," which earned $16.5 million by Sunday's end. The Paramount-distributed horror flick continues to do phenomenal business given its $15,000 budget and $84.8 million cumulative after six weeks in theaters. With no signs of slowing down, "Paranormal Activity" could haunt the box office top five for weeks to come.
"Law Abiding Citizen" secured the bronze medal with $7.3 million after a close race on Friday against "Couples Retreat," which finished the weekend with $6.1 million for a fourth place finish. "Where The Wild Things Are" left Friday's box office in fifth place, but the Halloween-fueled "Saw VI" popped up behind the Spike Jonze-directed film with a bear trap or an explosive head box or some other such torture device to eek out the final spot in the top five.
Which movies, if any, did you see this weekend? Let us know in the comments section or on Twitter!
If you would like to make a comment, please fill out the form below.
1. "Michael Jackson's This Is It" ($21.3 million)
2. "Paranormal Activity" ($16.5 million)
3. "Law Abiding Citizen" ($7.3 million)
3. "Couples Retreat" ($6.1 million)
5. "Saw VI" ($5.6 million)
Would-be moviegoers opted for a weekend filled with trick-or-treating, costume partying and other similar shenanigans in celebration of Saturday night's Halloween, with a select few heading into movie theaters as a way to embrace the holiday. But it wasn't the ghost and slasher-heavy horror flicks that won the weekend — instead, "Michael Jackson's This Is It" commanded the box office with a $21.3 million first place finish.
"This Is It" has amassed $32.5 million since opening last Wednesday, which is a far cry from the $250 million concert promoter AEG predicted the movie would make in its first five days, as Deadline Hollywood Daily reported. AEG and film distributor Sony anticipated so much success that they marketed "This Is It" as a two week limited engagement, a short run that would have ensured the Michael Jackson documentary's relatively disappointing financial outcome — if Sony had kept that promise, that is.
According to Deadline Hollywood, Sony will extend the theatrical run of "This Is It" through November's Thanksgiving weekend, allegedly due to the widely positive reactions from fans and critics alike. While the movie was well-received, there's no doubt that Sony is hoping to milk all the cash that this cow has to offer, which almost certainly won't be as much as the studio initially expected.
The Halloween spirit was better represented in the second place finisher, "Paranormal Activity," which earned $16.5 million by Sunday's end. The Paramount-distributed horror flick continues to do phenomenal business given its $15,000 budget and $84.8 million cumulative after six weeks in theaters. With no signs of slowing down, "Paranormal Activity" could haunt the box office top five for weeks to come.
"Law Abiding Citizen" secured the bronze medal with $7.3 million after a close race on Friday against "Couples Retreat," which finished the weekend with $6.1 million for a fourth place finish. "Where The Wild Things Are" left Friday's box office in fifth place, but the Halloween-fueled "Saw VI" popped up behind the Spike Jonze-directed film with a bear trap or an explosive head box or some other such torture device to eek out the final spot in the top five.
Which movies, if any, did you see this weekend? Let us know in the comments section or on Twitter!
If you would like to make a comment, please fill out the form below.
