American cinemagoers have surprised critics again, by shooting horror remake The Grudge to the top of the charts.
The film, a low-budget remake of the Japanese film Ju-On: The Grudge, was expected to have a moderate opening but instead stormed to the number one spot taking $40 million (21.7 million) in its first three days.
"If we would have done 20 [million dollars], we would have been ecstatic," said Rory Bruer, president of domestic distribution at Columbia Pictures.
In the film Sarah Michelle Gellar portrays an American in Tokyo who must outwit a ghostlike being.
The remake which was directed by Takashi Shimizu, who helmed the Japanese original, cost a modest $10 million.
Shark Tale, top for the last three weeks, made $14.3 million - taking its total earnings to $136.9 million.
DreamWorks made the top ten for a second time this week with Surviving Christmas, which stars Ben Affleck and James Gandolfini. The critically panned film opened in seventh - taking $4.5 million.
I Heart Huckabees, the only other new entry to the chart, came in tenth taking $3 million.
Top Ten
1 - The Grudge
2 - Shark Tale
3 - Shall We Dance?
4 - Friday Night Lights
5 - Team America: World Police
6 - Ladder 49
7 - Surviving Christmas
8 - Taxi
9 - The Forgotten
10 - I Heart Huckabees
