Halloween audiences picked beats over blood this weekend, pushingMichael Jacksons This Is Itto the top spot, while horror phenomenonParanormal Activityscored a strong second-place finish.
With a $21.3 million domestic gross,This Is Itraised its worldwide total to a massive $101 million that easily breaks the record for a concert doc, though it falls far short of the $250 million that concert promoterAEG reportedly predicted.
Even so, the performance was good enough to convince distributor Sony (which acquired the pic for a mere $60 million) to announce that the concert pic will remain in theaters at least until Thanksgiving.
Still beating expectations in its third wide-release weekend, the sleeper hitParanormal Activitydropped just 22 percent for a $16.5 million haul.
At $84.8 million total after six weekends, the surprise smash is now the years highest grossing horror movie.
Rounding out the top five are holdoversLaw Abiding Citizen($7.3 million),Couples Retreat, ($6.1 million), andSaw VI($5.6 million).
The weekends two other newbies both had lukewarm receptions in wide release:The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Daymade $0.5 million at 68 theaters, whileGentlemen Broncosearned $10,000 at two sites.
More box office news:
Box Office Chart: Weekends top 10
Michael Jacksons This Is It tops Friday box office with $7.9 millionBox office preview: This is It destined to win the weekend
Michael Jacksons This Is It grosses $7.4 million in U.S. on opening day
Box Office Report: Paranormal Activity conjures $22 million for No.
1 spot
