Ticket buyers turned out in force to see producer Michael Bay’s remake of the classic horror film “Friday the 13th” this weekend. The ill-fated kids at Camp Crystal Lake scored the largest debut on record for a horror film, with an estimated $45.2 million, according to studio estimates. The previous record-holder for a horror film was 2004’s “The Grudge”, with $39 million.

Grabbing second place was the romantic comedy “He’s Just Not That Into You” with $23.4 million, bringing its ten day total to $58.8 million. The thriller “Taken” took third place with $22.2 million on its third week out, bringing the Liam Neeson film $80.9 million to date.

The animated “Coraline” took $19.1 million and fourth place; Disney’s comedy “Confessions of a Shopaholic” starring Isla Fischer, which chronicles the spending habits of the film’s heroine, earned fifth place with $17.3 million on its debut. Clive Owen’s political thriller “The International”, which premiered this weekend, was seventh with $11 million.

Ticket sales jumped 28 percent over last weekend and 43 percent over the same weekend last year. Final figures are due Tuesday because of the President’s Day weekend.


Box Office Grosses
Week Ending February 15, 2009

Rank Title Weekend Total Gross
1 Friday the 13th (2009) $45.2M $45.2M
2 He’s Just Not That Into You (2009) $23.4M $58.8M
3 Taken (2008/I) $22.2M $80.9M
4 Coraline (2009) $19.1M $39.4M
5 Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009) $17.3M $17.3M
6 Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009) $13.2M $112M
7 The International (2009) $11M $11M
8 The Pink Panther 2 (2009) $10.5M $23.8M
9 Slumdog Millionaire (2008) $8.72M $88.1M
10 Push (2009) $7.93M $20.3M