Paranormal Activity 3 Scares Up Huge $54M Debut

First Released: October 23, 2011 1:48 PM EDT Credit: Vital Pictures Caption A scene from 2011s Paranormal Activity 3LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Paranormal Activity 3 didnt go bump within the evening. It made a lot of noise in the box office having a record-setting, $54 million opening. The 3rd film in Vital Pictures low-budget fright franchise, that was No. 1 in the box office, had the greatest debut ever for any horror movie, based on Sunday studio estimations. It broke the prior record part two set last year with $40.7 million. It is also the greatest opening ever to have an October release, topping the $50.35 million Paramounts Jackass three dimensional made this past year. Paranormal Activity 3 is really a prequel, using the discovery of disturbing home-movie footage from 1988. Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, who made the creepy documentary Catfish, required over pointing responsibilities this time around. Don Harris, Paramounts leader of distribution, stated the studio wished part three would simply perform much better than part two. The very first Paranormal Activity, using its reported $15,000 budget, grew to become a phenomenon last year through night time tests and person to person. Harris thinks this installment accomplished it mainly because its really the very best movie from the three. He noted it become a huge hit for an older crowd, with 47 percent older than 25 in comparison to 40 % for Paranormal Activity 2. Strong reviews also assisted, he stated, together with a rave from Time magazine. And essentially, horror movies simply play better inside a packed theater. Ultimately, it will get to why theres still a theatrical business, why people still visit the movies, Harris stated. You want to laugh inside a group, you want to be frightened inside a group, people prefer to cry inside a group at nighttime where nobody can easily see them crying. Its all of the reason cinemas exist which genre happens to be in the forefront. Paul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for Hollywood.com, stated he was expecting Paranormal Activity 3 in the future in around $35 million for that weekend, due to the fact most beginners happen to be underperforming this fall. This brand is really as solid because the Twilight brand or even the Jackass brand. You will find certain brands that simply transcend any type of box-office rhyme or reason. They simply resonate, Dergarabedian stated. They are shot in somebody's house, they appear like theyre shot having a home video recorder, the ones just connect with it. Last days No. 1 release, the advanced boxing robot adventure Real Steel, fell to second place. It made $11.3 million for any domestic total of $67.two million. Worldwide, the Disney movie has made $153.3 million. One of the other new releases now, Summit Entertainments 3-D version from the Three Musketeers arrived 4th place with $8.8 million. And Universals Johnny British Reborn, a follow up towards the 2003 spy parody starring Rowan Atkinson, opened up at No. 8 with $3.8 million. Nevertheless its already an enormous hit worldwide, getting made $104.5 million to date. In limited release, the significantly acclaimed mental thriller Martha Marcy May Marlene made $137,541 on four screens in NY and La. Thats a hefty $34,385 per screen average, based on Fox Searchlight. Believed ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, based on Hollywood.com. Where available, latest worldwide amounts will also be incorporated. Final domestic figures is going to be launched Monday. 1. Paranormal Activity 3, $54 million. 2. Real Steel, $11.3 million. 3. Footloose, $10.85 million. 4. The 3 Musketeers, $8.8 million. 5. The Ides of March, $4.9 million. 6. Dolphin Tale, $4.two million. 7. Moneyball, $4.05 million. 8. Johnny British Reborn, $3.8 million. ($13.5 million worldwide.) 9. The One Thing, $3.a million. 10. 50/50, $2.8 million. Copyright 2011 through the Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.