The remake of a contrived 1970s horror film was the top money-maker at North American box offices on a weekend when cinemas are largely forgotten amid the hype of the Super Bowl championship of American football.
A Stranger Calls grossed $22 million in its debut for the three-day weekend, according to preliminary studio estimates released Sunday.
The film portrays a baby-sitter harassed by an anonymous telephone caller, leading up to a purported surprise when police eventually trace the calls to their origin.
Last weekend's top film and runner up, the Martin Lawrence sequel Big Momma's House 2 and the Emma Thompson vehicle Nanny McPhee, fell to second and third place respectively, with Friday to Sunday revenues of $13.4 million and $9.9 million. Both comedies debuted last week.
In its ninth weekend in theatres, the controversial gay cowboy romance Brokeback Mountain lassoed $5.7 million. The film's total revenue is now nearly $60 million.
Fifth place went to the animated Hoodwinked, a rendition of the well-worn tale of Little Red Riding Hood with $5.3 million, in its fourth week. Actresses Glenn Close and Anne Hathaway provide the major voices for the film.
The rest of the top 10 films were: monster-action movie Underworld in sixth place with $5.1 million in its third week, interracial romantic comedy Something New debuting in seventh place with $5 million, boxing drama Annapolis in eighth place with $3.5 million in its second week, Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line in ninth place with $3.4 million in its 12th week, and the true story Glory Road about a pioneering all-black basketball team in 10th place with $3 million in its fourth week.
{{/usCountry}}The rest of the top 10 films were: monster-action movie Underworld in sixth place with $5.1 million in its third week, interracial romantic comedy Something New debuting in seventh place with $5 million, boxing drama Annapolis in eighth place with $3.5 million in its second week, Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line in ninth place with $3.4 million in its 12th week, and the true story Glory Road about a pioneering all-black basketball team in 10th place with $3 million in its fourth week.
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