Clooney’s ‘Suburbicon’ tanks; ‘Saw’ sequel No. 1 with $16.3M

Clooney’s ‘Suburbicon’ tanks; ‘Saw’ sequel No. 1 with $16.3M

NEW YORK

George Clooney’s “Suburbicon” notched one of the most dismal wide-release debuts in recent years on a sluggish pre-Halloween weekend where the horror sequel “Jigsaw” topped all releases despite an underperforming debut.

The eighth “Saw” film landed at No. 1 with $16.3 million in North American ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. That came in below industry expectations and suggested the revived “Saw” franchise isn’t connecting with audiences the way other recent horror entries have.

In its first release since the Harvey Weinstein scandal began unfolding, the beleaguered Weinstein Co. feebly released a horror sequel of its own: “Amityville: The Awakening.” It played in an unusual Saturday-only engagement on just 10 screens, and grossed a mere $742.

“Jigsaw” distributor Lionsgate also claimed the No. 2 spot with $10 million in the second week of release for “Tyler Perry’s Boo 2! A Madea Halloween.”

Made for about $10 million, “Jigsaw” comes seven years after the notoriously gruesome franchise – famously dubbed “torture porn” – bid adieu with “Saw 3D: The Final Chapter.”

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Final domestic figures will be released today.

1. “Jigsaw,” $16.3 million ($9.5 million).

2. “Boo 2! A Madea Halloween,” $10 million.

3. “Geostorm,” $5.7 million ($49.3 million).

4. “Happy Death Day,” $5.1 million ($4.7 million international).

5. “Blade Runner 2049,” $4 million ($16.6 million international).

Associated Press