‘Halloween’ scares up $77.5 million in ticket sales

That is huge, and easily the biggest opening weekend for any of the principals associated with this film (David Gordon Green, Danny McBride and Jamie Lee Curtis). Earlier this year, it was revealed only the first film exists in this world.

The film is also the second biggest October opener, narrowly pipped by Venom which grossed $80.2m (£61.3m) earlier this month and the second largest R-rated horror ever, beaten only by It, which took in an eye-watering $123.4m (£94.4m) past year.

Overseas, "Halloween" generated $14.3 million from 23 markets for a global start of $91.8 million.

Blumhouse, the shop behind "Get Out" and numerous other modestly budgeted horror films, co-produced "Halloween". Blumhouse was smart, however, to make the 2018 version a direct sequel to the original, and it helped that it was also very good.

"I am enormously proud of this film,"says Jason Blum". "'Halloween' brings the franchise back to life in a fresh, relevant and fun way that is winning over fans and critics alike".

According to the official synopsis: "Jamie Lee Curtis returns to her iconic role as Laurie Strode, who comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago". And is the highest grossing horror movie with a female lead.

Carpenter returned to executive produce and compose the score for the R-rated thriller. The follow-up has garnered some of the best reviews for a series entry yet.

It was a particularly busy week at the box office as critically acclaimed films such as the young adult adaptation "The Hate U Give" and the Robert Redford swan song "The Old Man & The Gun" expanded nationwide after a few weeks in limited release. It picked up a solid $7.5 million, taking its total earnings to $10.5 million. "A Star Is Born" pocketed another $19.3 million, while "Venom" follows close behind with $18.1 million for solid domestic totals of $126 million and $171 million, respectively. The studio had expected an opening north of $50 million. "A Star Is Born" opened in Australia with $4.7 million in 536 venues, as well as Hong Kong with $629,000 in 58 locations. Damien Chazelle's space epic, which holds a $60-million price tag, dropped roughly 46 percent in its second frame.