Box Office, Lionsgate | featured news

"The Possession" was the top choice for moviegoers over Labor Day weekend, giving Lionsgate three weekends in a row of box office supremacy. The horror film, produced by Sam Raimi, grossed an estimated $17.7 million from Friday to Sunday,and could be over $21 million by the time Labor Day earnings are tabulated on Tuesday. That would give the Lionsgate feature the second-highest Labor Day opening ever, behind only the original "Halloween." Jason Statham's "The Transporter" held the previous runner-up position, with $20.1 million earned in 2005.

"Hunger Games" becomes the first film since "Avatar" to spend four straight weekends at No. 1, while fellow Lionsgate pic "Cabin in the Woods" opens third with $14.9 million; "Battleship" Beat Overseas by "Titanic 3D" in surprise upset.

The feast is on: "The Hunger Games" has taken in $68.25 million domestically in its first day, a record for a non-sequel. The Friday total for Lionsgate's "The Hunger Games" was the fifth-best opening day ever and puts the movie on track for the best debut weekend ever in March. That record is held by "Alice in Wonderland" with $116.1 million.

The specialty box office roared to life as Lionsgate's "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" opened to $1.8 million from 18 locations for a record-breaking $100,000 per location average.

The big story this weekend is the pre-Halloween box office -- the horror, the horror of it all -- and how Saw VI, which has been a disgusting but reliably performing franchise over the years for Lionsgate, was decimated Friday by Paranormal Activity -- despite the Paramount phenom playing in 1,100+ less theaters during its 5th week of release.