"The Last Exorcism" finished on top of box-office on Friday, while James Cameron's sci-fi adventure "Avatar" hit the theater with its 3D version as its cumulative domestic gross crossed $750 million. "Exorcism," a PG-13 flick, is directed by Daniel Stamm. "Hostel" horror-meister Eli Roth has produced the horror film. The film was released in 2,874 theaters in North America and it earned an estimated $9.4 million.
"The suspense is finely crafted. 'The Last Exorcism' doesn't rely on cheap shock effects but locates scares in weird images — many of which cut deep because the camera is caught out of position, or isn't in focus, or is far from the action. Director Daniel Stamm stimulates the imagination rather than shunt it aside: The horror genre is all about exercising restraint in the presence of the unrestrained," wrote New York Post. Although the film has received largely positive reviews, some critics have also slammed it.
"Takers," which was also released on Friday finished at second place. Sony/Screen Gems' crime tale, starring Hayden Christensen and Chris Brown was released in 2,206 theaters. The John Luessenhop directed film grabbed $7.5 million.
Fox’s “Avatar” is playing in just 812 3D locations and it finished outside the top ten for the day. It earned over $1.2 million.
Lionsgate's “The Expendables," stood at third place with an estimated earnings of $2.7 million. The film’s total earnings climbed to above the $75 million mark this weekend. Julia Roberts starrer "Eat Pray Love" came fourth with $2.2 million. Sony’s other flick "The Other Guys" completed the top five with $1.9 million.
