Per The Wrap:
Jigsaw has finally met his match.
The diabolical inventor of torture machines and techniques, who has led four successive “Saw” sequels to $30 million openings, got crushed at the domestic box office Friday by the wide-opening demons of “Paranormal Activity.”
When the carnage was over, Paramount’s “Paranormal” had grossed $7.4 million playing at 1,945 venues Friday, and is on pace for a $21 million weekend, according to studio sources. Lionsgate’s “Saw VI,” meanwhile, took in only $6.9 million and is on trajectory to earn about $18 million over the three-day period.
Meanwhile the rest of the films in release is pretty much crash-and-burn-o-rama with Where the Wild Things Are dropping 65%, Cirque du Freak with only $2.2M, Astro Boy with a mere $1.8M, and Amelia a scant $1.3M.
I viewed Paranormal a few weeks ago and I will not see SAW VI. I have gotten tired of the "Churning out" of a SAW every year. They are not taking their time to get a good story to film, but instead are trying to top their own grossness for grossness sake.
Horror has been diluted by gross and Paranormal brings back the suspense that's been missing for a while. Check it out if you haven't already.
Yaaaay!
Hmm I saw both. Typed up some brief thoughts over at MSP. It'll be interesting to see long term numbers.