There was something of a surprise at the American box office this weekend when, despite some of the heavy hitters still performing well, horror pic Texas Chainsaw 3D saw off (pun not intended) the competition to claim the top spot with $23 million.

Helped, no doubt, by being the only new release and seeing the usual first-week sampling by Leatherface fans, the latest outing for the iconic killer was the shock champion over second place Django Unchained (which snapped at its heels with $20 million) and The Hobbit in third, with Peter Jackson’s film making $17.5 million.

Les Miserables continued to sing for its supper, slipping to fourth with $16.1 million, while comedy Parental Guidance was fifth, earning $10.1 million.

Jack Reacher slipped one place to sixth, making $9.3 million, and This Is 40 fell to seventh for $8.5 million and seventh place. Lincoln was eighth with $5.2 million, ahead of The Guilt Trip in ninth, which took home $4.5 million. Finally we have enviro-fracking drama Promised Land, which earned $4.3 million.

To see a maniac chasing Hobbits with a knife (who isn't Azog the Defiler) across the charts, head to Box Office Mojo.