LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK (Reuters) – Low-budget horror sequel “Insidious: Chapter 2″ grabbed moviegoers searching for a Friday the 13th scare, winning the U.S. and Canadian box office race over The Robert De Niro comedy “The Family.”
The fright flick about a family haunted by spirits pulled in more than $ 41 million in ticket sales in its first three days, according to studio estimates on Sunday. About $ 20 million came on its Friday the 13th release date.
“The Family” finished in second place with $ 14.5 million over the weekend. The movie features De Niro as a mob boss whose family relocates to France under the witness protection program.
Last weekend’s box office champ, sci-fi sequel “Riddick,” fell to third place with $ 7 million in ticket sales. The movie stars Vin Diesel as an intergalactic traveler who can see in the dark.
Privately held FilmDistrict released “Insidious: Chapter 2.” “The Family” was distributed by privately held Relativity Media. “Riddick” was released by Universal Pictures, a unit of Comcast Corp.
(Reporting by Lisa Richwine and Chris Michaud; Editing by Bill Trott)
