Weekend Receipts: Paranormal Activity 2 is Your New Horror Champion

As noted here yesterday, Paramount is on one of its best box-office rolls in years, continuing this weekend with the cash magnet known as Paranormal Activity 2. The studio's other low-budget smash of the month, Jackass 3D, trailed in a distant second place -- yet still remains on track for a $100 million breakthrough as early as next week. And then there's Hereafter, which it appears we'll be channeling from its grave soon enough. Let's break it down.

1. Paranormal Activity 2

Gross: $41,500,000 (new)

Screens: 3,216 (PSA: $12,904)

Weeks: 1

Give it up for Paranormal Activity 2, which will apparently set the record for biggest horror opening ever by the close of business today. Perhaps more notable: This film cost $3 million to make. Pretty pricey considering the concept and the original's $15,000 budget, no? Dogs and babies are getting expensive!

2. Jackass 3D

Gross: $21,600,000 ($87,147,000)

Screens: 3,111 (PSA: $6,943)

Weeks: 2 (change: -57.1%)

Not much to add to the conversation about this one, except let's get those "For Your Consideration" ads going pronto, Paramount.

3. Red

Gross: $15,000,000 ($43,483,000)

Screens: 3,273 (PSA: $4,583)

Weeks: 2 (change: -31.1%)

Say what you will about Red's all-star cast, decent word-of-mouth and older-demographic appeal. At the end of the day, though, remember that the excellent second-week holdover is all about the Schwentke. That is all.

4. Hereafter

Gross: $12,005,000 ($12,320,000)

Screens: 2,181 (PSA: $5,504)

Weeks: 2 (change: +5,348.8%)

Not a horrible wide opening for Clint Eastwood's snoozy afterlife melodrama, but not very good either. Clearly it could have used more Schwentke.

5. The Social Network

Gross: $7,300,000 ($72,931,000)

Screens: 2,921 (PSA: $2,499)

Weeks: 3 (change: -29.2%)

Mark Zuckerberg's ringing endorsement no doubt kept this one competitive in its third week.

[Numbers via Box Office Mojo]