The Devil Inside possessed the movie-going audiences into buying $34 million in movie tickets this weekend, taking the number one spot away from Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.
As the only new release this weekend, the horror movie dominated the first weekend of 2012 and pushed Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol to number two after dominating the top spot the last two weeks of last year. Going into the weekend, Fandango reported 31% of the ticket sales purchased online were for The Devil Inside which might indicate there was an increase awareness for this film.
Horror films typically open big opening weekend, but many were surprised the possession-themed film raked in $34 million. Recently Paranormal Activity 3 opened to $54 million, breaking records as the highest weekend opening for a horror film. The effective outdoor campaign of a possessed nun might have done the trick.
The rest of the top 10 box office are leftovers from 2011, but Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy starring Gary Oldman did manage to come in at number 9 after expanding it's release over the weekend.
Below is the box office results for the weekend of January 6 through January 8:
1. The Devil Inside
2. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
3. Sherlock Holmes 2 : Game of Shadows
4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
5. Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-wrecked
6. War Horse
7. We Bought A Zoo
8. The Adventures of Tintin
9. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
10. New Year's Eve
