If this weekend was a challenge of scares, tone and audience, then Goosebumps won soundly over Guillermo del Toro’s latest, Crimson Peak. The former, boasting a loyal book crowd and big family appeal, headed straight for the top of the charts with $23.5 million, according to studio estimates.
Though it won’t reach here until February – odd, given that it would seem to be the ideal Halloween pic for kids, though horrors of all stripes have done well in the quiet domain of Feb before – Goosebumps got a good jump start with its home crowd, even if the frenzied CG-fest won’t be for everyone. It knocked The Martian out of its first place orbit, though the Matt Damon/Jessica Chastain sci-fi still managed to stay flying, dipping just one place to second with $21.5 million and more than $143.7 million in the States alone.
Steven Spielberg was back in solid historical territory for Bridge Of Spies, bringing along old pal Tom Hanks, and the based-on-actual-events drama managed a respectable third place opening with $15.3 million. That was enough to arrive ahead of Crimson Peak, which could only manage a slightly disappointing fourth on $12.8 million. Opening to a lot of competition for adult eyes, the film may have fallen between two stools – not romantic enough for some, not geared towards horror on a level that others might have wanted. Still, Guillermo has had luck with international audiences in the past, so perhaps the Peak will win out elsewhere.
Hotel Transylvania 2 rounded out the top five, falling from second and adding $12.2 to its total. That kept it ahead of a swiftly-falling Pan, which has failed to find much magic and made $5.8 million in sixth. The fantasy prequel has taken in a meagre $25.7 million in the US, and its $50.9 million global total won’t help much towards a budget that was in the $150 million region even before prints and advertising. The Intern slipped to seventh with $5.4 million, while Sicario was down to eighth and $4.5 million.
The week’s third wide new entry – though on 1,553 screens as opposed to Goosebumps’ 3,501 – was faith-based sports drama Woodlawn, which earned $4.1 million. Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials found itself down in 10th place, adding $2.7 million for a $75.4 million Stateside total so far.
To see Goosebumps chill the rest of the competition in the full chart listings, head to Box Office Mojo.