Trick Or Retreat

As the frame's only new wide release...Couples Retreat won the top spot at the weekend box office-Setting an October record...But it's Paranormal Activity that continues to really impress...



Carlos Ponce Vince Vaughn and Malin Akerman in Retreat.

Andrew Stewart of Variety:

Universal topped reigning champ Sony at the nation's box office this weekend with its launch of romantic comedy "Couples Retreat," earning an estimated $35.3 million at 3,000 playdates.

"Zombieland" dropped to second in its soph sesh with $15 million at 3,038, while Sony's other holdover "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" continued to play strong in its fourth frame with $12 million at 2,992.

Paramount's ghost story phenom "Paranormal Activity" placed exceptionally high in this weekend's frame with record-breaking numbers, earning $7.1 million at 160 screens, the highest weekend grosser at 200 locations or less. Pic beat previous record-holder "Platoon," which earned $3.7 million at 174 locatins in 1987.

"Paranormal" grossed the frame's highest per screen average of $44,163, edging out Sony Pictures Classics' launch of "An Education" with $162,381 at four engagements, earning an average of $40,595 per screen....

EW has the Weekend's top 10 chart...and analysis...