October 27, 2007–Saw IV outdid previous opening day records for the horror franchise on Friday, grossing up $14.7 million off 3,183 theaters.
Besting Saw IIIs opening day by 2%, Saw IV is also on track to beat the previous chapters 3-day weekend of $33.6 million, which is the series highest grossing opener.
Saw III went on to become the second highest chapter in the Saw series, grossing $80.2 million domestically, and ranking behind Saw IIs $87 million.
Trailing behind Saw IV in second place on Friday was the weekends second frosh wide release, Disneys Steve Carell romantic comedy Dan in Real Life, which made $4.1 million off 1,921 engagements.
Last weekend’s horror entry, 30 Days of Night placed third, drawing $2.2 million from 2,859 coffins, a 65% drop from its first Friday and a current domestic body count of $22.8 million.
In fourth, Disneys Dwayne Johnson starrer The Game Plan continued to gain yardage at the B.O., scoring $1.8 million off 3,342 for a current cume of $72.6 million.
Another Lionsgate title Tyler Perrys Why Did I Get Married rounded out fifth place, engaging $1.6 million from 1,897, off 54% from its second Friday, for a total cume to date of $43.2 million.
After widening from 201 theaters to 698, Fox Searchlights The Darjeeling Limited chalked up $565,000 in its fourth Friday, a 33% uptick from a week ago and a new cumulative of $4.9 million.
Sidney Kimmel-MGM release, Lars and the Real Girl, surged 411% with $280,000 after upping its theaters yesterday from 21 to 296. The cume for Lars currently stands at $684,000.
Among limited releases, Thinkfilms Sidney Lumet crime drama Before the Devil Knows Youre Dead charted Fridays highest screen average with $9,625 off two N.Y. theaters or $19,250.
Roadside Attractions Mexican romance drama Bella from first-time helmer Alejandro Gomez Monteverde, wooed a notable $419,000 off 165 playdates. Bella boasts a higher opening screen average of $2,540 than previous Latin releases this year such as El Cantante which generated $1,993 per theater from 540 playdates ($1.1 million), Ladron que roba el ladron which grossed $1,393 per theater from 340 ($474,000) and Feel the Noise which mined $1,110 per engagement from 1,015 ($1.1 million).
Less impressive among Fridays specialized fare were MGMs Music Within which opened to $23,000 in 17 theaters; Warner’s Rails & Ties with $3,000 off 5 theaters and Anthony Hopkins’ Slipstream, which grossed $2,000 off six theaters.
