'Saw 3D' is Top Buzz at US Weekend B-O

NOV 1, 2010 - Saw 3D, the seventh instalment of the horror franchise and the sole new US nationwide release on around 3,500 screens at 2,808 locations, took the No. 1 spot at the Halloween weekend box-office.

Paranormal Activity 2 was in good stead after breaking the supernatural horror opening gross record last weekend. Saw 3D grossed an estimated US$1.7 million in its Thursday night preview at close to 2,000 sites, but Paranormal 2 was still tops for the day with nearly US$2 million.

Last October, Saw VI rested on its laurels in the face of the surging Paranormal Activity, resulting in a series-low US$14.1 million opening weekend. Simply announcing another Saw movie with no new hooks didn't cut it like it used to, especially when Saw V didn't leave fans buzzing like other entries. Prior to Saw VI, the Saw series had been remarkably consistent, with Saw II through Saw V each scoring US$30 million plus openings, even if business had been waning.

Here are the Top 5 North American B-O studio estimates for Oct 29-31, 2010 weekend, in terms of rank, Movie name (studio), Weekend takings in USD, (Cumulative gross, USD) and week on chart, courtesy of Boxofficemojo.

1. Saw 3D (Lionsgate) $22.5 million ($24.2 million) 1

2. Paranormal Activity 2 (Paramount) $16.5 million ($65.7 million) 2

3. Red (Summit) $10.8 million ($58.9 million) 3

4. Jackass 3-D (Paramount) $8.4 million ($101.6 million) 3

5. Hereafter (Warner Bros.) $6.3 million ($22.2 million) 3