Box office report: ‘Texas Chainsaw 3D’ massacres competition (Video)

After a seven year absence, Leatherface and his chainsaw made a killer comeback at the box office during the Jan. 4-6 weekend. According to Box Office Mojo, “Texas Chainsaw 3D” claimed the number one spot with $23 million, taking down the three-weekend champion, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.”

“Texas Chainsaw 3D” is a direct sequel to the 1974 cult classic, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” The latter film was remade in 2003 with Jessica Biel and Eric Balfour as the lead actors. It was followed by a 2006 prequel, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning.”

The 2003 and 2006 films were produced under Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes production studio. In 2007, the studio announced they were abandoning the franchise, after “The Beginning” made just $39 million at the box office. In 2009, Twisted Pictures negotiated a deal to pick up the franchise.

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Lionsgate Films

“Texas Chainsaw 3D” came in second for top opening weekends in the horror franchise. The 2003 remake opened with $28 million during its debut weekend.

Audiences were thirsting for bloodbaths this weekend with “Texas Chainsaw” being the number one film and Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained” being the number two film. Tarantino’s spaghetti western dropped only 33% in its second weekend, bringing in $20 million. Its total now stands at $106.3 million.

After being the number one film for three straight weekends, “The Hobbit” fell to third place with $17.5 million. Its total is now $263.8 million.

Along with “Django Unchained,” the star-studded musical, “Les Miserables,” also crossed the century mark this weekend. The Russell Crowe and Hugh Jackman-starring update earned $16.1 million, bringing its total to $103.6 million.

“Parental Guidance” rounded out the top five with $10.1 million. Its total now stands at $52.7 million.

Expanding this weekend was Gus Van Sant’s “Promised Land.” The Matt Damon-starring film about fracking opened in 25 theaters last weekend and made its way to over 1,600 during the first weekend of January. The film landed in the number 10 spot with $4.3 million, bringing its total to $4.6 million.