Paranormal Activity continues stunning US run
Paranormal Activity continues stunning US run
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Monday, 26, Oct 2009 11:10
By Lewis Bazley.
Low-budget horror film Paranormal Activity has beaten sequel Saw VI to the number one spot at the US box office.
Produced for just $15,000 (£9,185), the Oren Peli film has earned a cumulative US total of $62.5 million (£38.3 million), with its takings expected to soar when distributors Paramount expand its run over the Halloween weekend.
Starring Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat, the film tells of a young couple whose nightly sleep is hampered by a seemingly evil presence within their home.
It is believed Paranormal Activity could exceed the box office performance of another low-budget horror, 1999's The Blair Witch Project, which is one of the most profitable films of all time having cost just $25,000 (£15,309) to produce.
"I couldn't be happier with our team's great work," said Paramount chairman Brad Grey after another successful weekend for Paranormal Activity
"[President of production] Adam Goodman believed in this movie and championed it from the first day he saw it. He recognised it was a great story with commercial potential, and made sure it had a home in our schedule and the release it deserved."
Saw VI debuted in second with a disappointing $14.8 million (£9.1 million) opening weekend - less that half the opening four films in the franchise, though distributors Lions gate have stressed a seventh film will be made.
Summit Entertainment's Astro Boy debuted in sixth position while Universal's Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant opened in a disappointing eighth.
The top ten films at the US box office are: (last week's position)
1 Paranormal Activity (3)
2 Saw VI (-)
3 Where the Wild Things Are (1)
4 Law Abiding Citizen (2)
5 Couples Retreat (4)
6 Astro Boy (-)
7 The Stepfather (5)
8 Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (-)
9 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (6)
10 Zombieland (7)