Weekend Box Office: Resident Evil Makes a Meal of the Competition

By Chris Kavan - 09/13/10 at 09:13 AM CT

Not surprising, given there were no other wide-release movies opening, Resident Evil: Afterlife debuted at #1 with a $27.7 million opening. The opening represents a series best - not bad for a film franchise that only loosely resembles the game its based off on. Once again, 3D tickets were a factor in the opening.

While Resident Evil can boast a good take - the next six films combined couldn't equal the opening take of the horror film. Takers was at second with $6.1 million - dropping about 44% and should break $50 million by next week.

In 3rd was the George Clooney vehicle, The American, with $5.9 million and 4th was Machete, which, not surprisingly, dropped a hefty 63% of its audience for $4.2 million and just over $20 million total. Rounding out the top 5 was Going the Distance, which despite a weak opening, held up reasonably well but only made $3.8 million for a $14 million total.

The Expendables earned an additional $3.3 million and should break the $100 million mark next week. Still hanging in the top 10 at #9 was Christopher Nolan's Inception with a $3.0 million take and a total of $284.4 million.

After a few weak weeks at the box office, expect next weeks numbers to hopefully be on the uptick with The Town, Easy A and Devil all being released.