Box office: 'Goosebumps,' 'The Martian' edge out new releases on Friday

Updated
Box Office: 'Goosebumps,' 'The Martian' Beat New Releases
Box Office: 'Goosebumps,' 'The Martian' Beat New Releases

By Variety

It's a slow weekend at the box office despite the arrival of five new releases: "The Last Witch Hunter," "Rock the Kasbah," "Jem and the Holograms," "Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension" and an expanded "Steve Jobs." Instead, popular holdovers "The Martian" and "Goosebumps" topped the box office on Friday, pulling in $4.3 million and $4 million, respectively.

Fox's "The Martian," now in its fourth weekend, is expected to take in up to $15 million by the end of the weekend in 3,504 locations. Matt Damon stars in Ridley Scott's space exploration adventure as an astronaut attempting to survive alone on the Red Planet. Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels and Kate Mara also star in the sci-fi pic, which is preparing to make its China debut next month.

WATCH MORE: Matt Damon Interview: 'The Martian's' Epic Voyage to the Bigscreen

PG thriller "Goosebumps," starring Jack Black as author R.L. Stine, is likely to finish the weekend with around $14.2 million. Sony's adaptation of the beloved children's book series, playing in 3,501 locations, was also the leader of the pack when it premiered last weekend to $23.5 million.

Steven Spielberg's Cold War thriller "Bridge of Spies" is expected to finish in the weekend's third spot, having pulled in $3.3 million on Friday. The Tom Hanks starrer should have a three-day take around $10 million from 2,811 locations.

Vin Diesel vehicle "The Last Witch Hunter," bowing in 3,082 locations, leads the newcomers; it generated $3.7 million in Friday receipts, pegging it for a three-day haul between $9.5 and $10 million. The actioner also hit a few international markets, putting up a strong showing in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.

"Steve Jobs," which opened wide to 2,493 locations after launching in limited release, is set for a three-day total of $7 million, though earlier estimates had pegged it as high as $19 million. The Danny Boyle-directed, Aaron Sorkin-penned biopic took in $2.4 million on Friday. Michael Fassbender, Seth Rogen and Kate Winslet star.

Paramount's latest chapter of "Paranormal Activity" competed with "Goosebumps" for the Halloween-eager crowd, taking in $3.3 million from 1,656 locations on Friday. The horror pic is slated for $6.5 million by weekend's end.

Bill Murray starrer "Rock the Kasbah" is fizzling at 2,012 locations, with a Friday take of $513,00 forecasting an opening weekend total of $1.5 million. Zooey Deschanel and Kate Hudson also star in the Open Road release.

Another rock 'n' rolling new release, "Jem and the Holograms," is faring similarly, hauling in $458,000 on Friday for Universal. The PG-rated adaptation of the 1980s animated series should finish the weekend with about $1.1 million. "Jem's" $5 million budget (courtesy of low-budget specialist Blumhouse) means it won't be too huge of a financial blow to the studio.

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