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Box Office Report: ‘Ouija’ Scares Up $20M Debut

Based on the classic Hasbro board game, new horror entry was produced by Blumhouse Pictures and Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes for less than $5 million.

Pre-Halloween horror film Ouija won the North American box office race this weekend, taking in $20 million from 2,858 locations for a first place debut. Overseas the teen-friendly film opened in its first five markets, grossing $1.3 million for a global launch of $21.3 million.

Based on the classic Hasbro board game, and budgeted at less than $5 million, Ouija was produced by Blumhouse Pictures and Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes in tandem with the toymaker, and distributed by Universal. Directed by Stiles White, Ouija stars Daren Kagasoff and Bianca A. Santos, and follows a group of friends who uncover the dark powers of the Ouija board when trying to summon their recently deceased friend's spirit.

John Wick, from Lionsgate, placed number two with $14.2 million from 2,589 theaters. Directed by Chad Stahelski, the R-rated action picture stars Keanu Reeves as an ex-hitman who comes out of a peaceful retirement to hunt down the gangsters who killed his puppy. Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Adrianne Palicki, Bridget Moynahan, Dean Winters, Ian McShane, John Leguizamo and Willem Dafoe also star.

Sony's Fury came in third place in its second weekend, taking in $13 million from 3,173 locations to push its domestic total to $46.1 million. Overseas, the WWII feature starring Brad Pitt launched in its first 15 markets, taking in $11.2 million.

David Fincher's Gone Girl placed number four in its fourth weekend, grossing $11.1 million for a domestic total of $124.1 million. The Fox film is just days away from overtaking The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ($127.5 million) to become Fincher's top-grossing film in North America. Gone Girl jumped the $100 million mark internationally after earning $18.4 million from 60 markets for a foreign total of $118.3 million and global haul of $242.4 million.

Rounding up the top five is Reel FX’s The Book of Life, directed by Jorge R. Gutierrez and produced by Guillermo del Toro. Distributed by Fox, the animated feature took in to $9.8 million over its sophomore weekend for a domestic total of $29.9 million. Overseas, The Book of Life -- budgeted at $50 million -- has brought in $17.5 million for a worldwide total of $47.5 million.

The Weinstein Co. and Chernin Entertainment's St. Vincent, starring Bill Murray opposite Melissa McCarthy and Naomi Watts, moved up the chart to number six as it expanded nationwide in its third weekend. The indie comedy grossed $8.1 million from 2,282 theaters for a total $9.2 million.

Disney's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day placed number seven in its third weekend, bringing in $7 million for a domestic total of $45.5 million. Overseas, Very Bad Day earned $2.5 million from 18 markets for an international total of $11.2 million and global cume of $56.7 million.

Relativity’s Nicholas Sparks adaptation, The Best of Me, came in eighth place with $4.7 million for a domestic total of $17.7 million.

Robert Downey Jr.'s new courtroom dramedy The Judge came in ninth place, making an additional $4.34 million for Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow Pictures for a total of $34.4 million.

Universal and Legendary Pictures' Dracula Untold rounded up the top 10 with $4.3 million for a domestic total of $40.7 million. Overseas, the origins film directed by Gary Shore earned another $14.7 million for an international total of $110.4 million and global take of $166 million.

Elsewhere, Disney’s Big Hero 6 opened in Russia and Ukraine on Saturday to take advantage of upcoming school holidays. The animated tentpole, which doesn't launch in the U.S. for another two weeks, grossed $5 million, including $4.8 million in Russia.

Box office numbers were obtained on boxofficemojo.com.

Jennifer Wolfe's picture

Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.