Weekend of Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 2009: Michael Jackson film triumphs with $21M

Sony Pictures’ Michael Jackson documentary “This Is It” prevailed at the top of the North American box office this weekend with $21.3 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The Kenny Ortega-directed film opened at 3,481 locations Wednesday, bagging $11.1 million in two days. The domestic total of “This Is It” currently stands at a solid $32.5 million.

Most of the film's footage was shot in June 2009 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. It includes scenes drawn from hours of rehearsal and behind-the-scenes footage.

At No. 2, Paramount’s sensational hit “Paranormal Activity” generated another superb $16.5 million after expanding to 2,404 locations. That brings the suspense thriller’s total haul to $84.6 million.

Produced on a budget of only $15,000, “Activity” has been filling up screenings all across the nation for weeks. This weekend alone, the film scored an fantastic average of $6,880 per theater.

Following at a distant No. 3 with a weekend gross of $7.3 million was F. Gary Gray’s thriller “Law Abiding Citizen,” which brought its cumulative gross to $51.3 million. Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx star.

Meanwhile, Vince Vaughn’s latest comedy “Couples Retreat” jumped back to fourth place (up from last week’s No. 5), earning $6 million for a total gross of $86.6 million after four weeks in release.

“Saw VI” took a substantial dive to No. 5 this weekend, taking home $5.5 million. The sixth installment in the horror franchise lifted its domestic total to a disappointing $22.8 million after a little more than one week in release.

Spike Jonze’s “Where the Wild Things Are” picked up $5 million in sixth place, which brings its cume to $61.8 million. Following at No. 7 with a three-day gross of $3.4 million was “The Stepfather,” which reached a total of $24.7 million.

Summit Entertainment’s underperforming animated feature “Astro Boy” collected $3 million at No. 8, lifting its domestic total gross to a disappointing $10.8 million. “Amelia” followed in ninth place with a weekend total of $3 million also and a cume of $8.3 million.

Finally, Paul Weitz’s “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant” finished at No. 10 with $2.8 million, which brought its cumulative gross to $10.5 million only.

Source: Box Office Mojo (www.boxofficemojo.com)