Weekend box-office: The Grudge 2 tops chart - Asian remakes rule!

You can always tell when its Halloween time, horror films top the movie charts – and with the spooky holiday right around the corner, Sony’s ‘The Grudge 2’ was at the top of this weekend’s box-office.

Taking in $22 million from 3,211 locations, the horror franchise which takes place in Tokyo, stars Sarah Michelle Geller and TV’s ‘Joan of Arcadia’s Amber Tamblyn.Pic is the story of a woman whose sister becomes afflicted by a mysterious curse which spreads from person to person. First in the franchise which opened to $39 million in 2004 is based on the Japanese ‘Ju-On’ series. Both “Grudge” movies were directed by the original ‘Ju-On’ director Takashi Shimizu.“Grudge” is the 12th Sony film to debut in the number one spot this year, an industry record.In its second week at the box-office, dropping to second place but holding up strongly because of positive reviews and an all star cast which attracts a mature male audience is Warner Bros., ‘The Departed’.The Martin Scorsese helmed crime film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson pulled in $18.7 million from 2,017 multiplexes giving it a total of $56.6 million for its two week stint.The film is a remake of the Hong Kong film industry ‘Infernal Affairs starring Andy Lau.’Writing this review early morning from the Pusan International Film Festival in Pusan Korea, the largest and most dynamic film festival in Asia, I am sure word of this weekend’s vibrant performance by two Hollywood remakes of Asian films will add a bit of zest to sales reps at the newly inaugurated Asian Film Market at this year’s Fest.A side note, multi-talented performer, director and producer Lau is being cited as Asian Performer of the Year at this year’s Pusan Fest.Opening in a disappointing third place this past weekend was Barry Levinson’s Robin Williams starer ‘Man of the Year’. Williams plays a late night talk show host who runs for president on a lark and wins. Film also stars Christopher Walken, Lewis Black and Jeff Goldblum.“Man” took in 12.6 million from 2,515 locationsSony's ‘Open Season’ fell to fourth place in its third week of release – taking in $11 million from 3,687 theaters giving it a total $59.2 million to date.The animated movie features the voices of Ashton Kutcher as a mule deer and Martin Lawrence as a domesticated grizzly bear. The second horror film in the line-up in this week’s run up to Halloween is New Line's ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning’ which dropped to fifth place in its second week on the big screen.Taking in $7.8 million from 2,820 locations this gore fest has racked up $30.5 million in ticket sales. Exhibitor Relations is reporting that movie ticket sales have risen to $7.37 billion so far in 2006, a 6.5 percent increase from the same period a year earlier. As always, thanks to Box Office Mojo for their weekend estimates.