“Insidious: Chapter 2“ was slammed by critics but audiences turned out in droves to check out the horror sequel, which scared its way to the top of the weekend box office. Film District’s PG-13-rated thriller, made on a shoestring budget of $5 million, raked in a massive $41 million in its opening weekend, according to industry estimates.
“Insidious: Chapter 2″ scored the highest September opening day ever, according to box-office analyst Paul Dergarabedian of Hollywood.com. It stars Rose Byrne and Patrick Wilson as the same haunted husband and wife from the successful 2010 horror flick “Insidious.”
Second-place box office winner was another newcomer, Relativity Media’s, “The Family,” which drew older audiences and grossed $14.5 million. The movie, starring Robert De Niro as a former Mafia don who moves his family to France as part of the witness-protection program, cost $30 million to make.
Meanwhile, Vin Diesel’s $38 million Riddick earned an estimated $6.6 million this weekend, an almost 70 percent drop for Universal’s sci-fi action movie. “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” followed in fourth place with $5.6 million. Jennifer Aniston’s comedy We’re the Millers rounded out the top five with $5.4 million.
Here’s the top ten list based on weekend estimates:
1. Insidious: Chapter 2 (Blumhouse/FilmDistrict) NEW (Runs 3,049] PG13
Friday $20.1M, Saturday $13.4M, Weekend $41.0M
2. The Family (Europecorp/Relativity) NEW [Runs 3,091] R
Friday $5.3M, Saturday $5.3M, Weekend $13.9M
3. Riddick (Universal) Week 2 [Runs 3,117] R
Friday $2.1M, Saturday $2.7M, Weekend $6.5M (-66%), Total $30.8M
4. Lee Daniels’ The Butler (Weinstein) Week 5 [Runs 3,239] PG13
Friday $1.6M, Saturday $2.4M, Weekend $5.5M, Total $99.9M
5. We’re The Millers (New Line/Warner Bros) Week 6 [Runs 3,238] R
Friday $1.7M, Saturday $2.3M, Weekend $5.4M, Total $131.6M
6. Instructions Not Included (Lionsgate) Week 3 [Runs 932] PG13
Friday $1.3M, Saturday $1.3M, Weekend $4.1M, Total $26.5M
7. Planes 3D (Disney) Week 6 [Runs 2,739] PG
Friday $705K, Saturday $1.4M, Weekend $2.9M, Total $82.9M
8. One Direction: This Is Us 3D (Sony) Week 3 [Runs 2,300] PG
Friday $825K, Saturday $1.0M, Weekend $2.4M, Total $26.9M
9. Elysium (Sony) Week 6 [Runs 1,720] R
Friday $628K, Saturday $975K, Weekend $2.2M, Total $88.5M
10. Percy Jackson 2 3D (Fox) Week 6 [Runs 1,638] PG
Friday $467K, Saturday $885K, Weekend $1.8M, Total $62.0M
