The Conjuring, opening this weekend, gained $41.5 million. Another lower budget film beat off the likes of R.I.P.D. which, according to reports, cost more than $130 million to make.

Vera FarmigaVera Farmiga at the premiere of Bates Motel, L.A. 

Warner Brother's haunted house horror, which stars Vera Farmiga (Bates Motel); Lili Taylor (Hemlock Grove); Patrick Wilson (Prometheus) and Ron Livingston (The Time Traveller's Wife), follows two paranormal investigators as they attempt to help The Warrens overcome a malign presence which lurks in their seemingly idyllic country house. 

According to reports in Fox News, the film was intended for release this winter. However, the film's studio tests proved so positive they decided on an early release. Speaking to Warner Brother's Jeff Goldstein (the executive president of theatrical distribution) he commented on the risk the studio took, which has most definitely paid off: "it was really a bold choice, no question about it. With three other movies against us this week with high price tags and high expectations associated with them, this result is even more impressive."

Steve CarrelSteve Carell at the L.A. premiere of Despicable Me 2.

Despicable Me 2, starring Steve Carell (The Office), Miranda Cosgrove (iCarly), Benjamin Bratt (Miss Congeniality), Kristen Wiig (Arrested Development), Russell Brand (Arthur) and Steve Coogan (Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa), was knocked off its two week position by the horror. This weekend it managed to cling to second place with $25 million. 

Another animation and new release, Turbo, was in third place. Adam Sandler's Comedy Grown Ups 2, which received disappointing reviews from critics, has defied them once again by remaining in 4th place. Red 2 obtained 5th place. 

R.I.P.D. which many assumed would automatically top the list only made $12.76 million. Considering the movie starred Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds, viewer's favourites, this certainly came as a shock for Universal. It only reached 7th place. 

Watch The Conjuring Movie Trailer:

The rest of the Weekend Box Office was made up of: Pacific Rim, The Heat, Monsters University and World War Z. 

The Conjuring is in US cinemas now whilst movie goers in the UK will have to wait until 2nd August 2013. 

Ryan ReynoldsRyan Reynolds at the premiere in Turbo in New York.