ROB ZOMBIE - HALLOWEEN FILM TOPS US SUMMER BOX OFFICE

HALLOWEEN FILM TOPS US SUMMER BOX OFFICE

A remake of horror film Halloween has topped the US box office with opening weekend takings of $26.5 million (£13.14 million).

The horror film comfortably overtook last week's number one Superbad as movie studios celebrate the best summer season for American cinema ever.

Halloween, which is directed by former rock star Rob Zombie, is the eighth film based on the 1978 horror classic made by John Carpenter.

Last week, Superbad which earned $12.2 million (£6.04 million) this week, became only the third movie this summer to stay on top of the US box office for consecutive weeks.

Blockbusters Spider-Man 3 and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End are the only other movies this year to stay at number one after their release.

Two other films, martial arts comedy Balls of Fury and Kevin Bacon's Death Sentence, opened for business this week. Balls of Fury claimed the third spot with takings of $11.6 million (£5.74 million) while
Death Sentence sold $4.2 million (£2.08 million) in tickets.

Trade magazine The Hollywood Reporter estimates that the North American box office is on track for summer ticket sales of $4.3 billion (£2.13 billion), beating the previous record set in the 2004 season.

This summer has seen a bevy of sequels, with additions to the Pirates of the Caribbean, Shrek, Oceans Eleven, Spiderman and Rush Hour franchises.

Four films - Spider-Man 3, Shrek the Third, Transformers and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End have earned over $300 million (£150 million) at the box office this summer.