Father Richard Moore (Tom Wilkinson) attempts to perform an exorcism on Emily Rose (Jennifer Carpenter) in the movie, The Exorcism of Emily Rose. - CONTRIBUTED
(AP):
THE EXORCISM of Emily Rose bedevilled its competition in its box-office debut this weekend, hauling in US$30.2 million with its mix of courtroom drama and classic horror.
The film, inspired by true events, follows a Catholic priest on trial for negligent homicide following the death of a satanically possessed 19 year old.
Its PG-13 rating and cast, including Oscar nominees Tom Wilkinson, Laura Linney and Shohreh Aghdashloo, helped give it wide appeal, bumping last week's newcomer, Transporter 2, from the number one spot, according to studio estimates.
Overall revenue for this weekend's top 12 films was up 16 per cent from the same period last year, said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations.
Transporter 2 fell to third place with three-day estimated ticket sales of US$7.2 million. The action sequel dropped below The 40-Year-Old Virgin, which held on to the number two spot in its fourth week with US$7.9 million, boosting its total domestic gross to US$82.3 million.
The critically panned The Man, a buddy comedy that throws together federal agent Samuel L. Jackson and dental supply salesman Eugene Levy to solve a murder, opened in sixth place with US$4.0 million.
An Unfinished Life, which stars Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman and Jennifer Lopez in the story of a rancher reluctantly reunited with his estranged daughter-in-law, opened well in limited release, with US$1.0 million and a per theatre average of US$7,264.
Meanwhile, The Constant Gardener, starring Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz and based on a John le Carre novel, moved to fourth place in its second week. The film took in US$4.8 million, bringing its total to US$19.1 million, while playing on fewer than half the number of screens given to The Exorcism of Emily Rose.
The debut of The Exorcism of Emily Rose marks the third biggest September opener, behind Sweet Home Alabama and the first Rush Hour.
Rory Bruer, president of distribution for Sony Pictures, called the opening 'phenomenal'.
"The movie cost us less than US$20 million to make. We would have been very happy had the picture opened to US$15 million," he said.
Raunchy summer comedies like The 40-Year-Old Virgin and The Wedding Crashers also continue to boost the sagging box office.
Still, overall revenues for the year are down about six per cent and attendance is down about nine per cent.
1. The Exorcism of Emily Rose, US$30.2 million.
2. The 40-Year-Old Virgin, US$7.9 million.
3. Transporter 2, US$7.2 million.
4. The Constant Gardener, US$4.8 million.
5. Red Eye, US$4.6 million.
6. The Man, US$4.0 million.
7. The Brothers Grimm, US$3.3 million.
8. Wedding Crashers, US$3.2 million.
9. Four Brothers, US$2.9 million.
10. March of the Penguins, US$2.5 million.
11. The Skeleton Key, US$1.6 million.
12. The Cave, US$1.3 million.
