'Happy Death Day' stands out among weak lineup of wide releases

It's been a great season for horror, with Blumhouse's "Happy Death Day" becoming the latest horror film to top the domestic box office in its opening weekend. The $5-million film, a bloody riff on the classic "Groundhog Day" concept, brought in an estimated $26.5 million in the U.S. and Canada, according to figures from measurement firm ComScore, above the $15 million to $20 million analysts projected. "We are absolutely thrilled with the opening," said Universal's Executive Vice President of Domestic Distribution Jim Orr. "Happy Death Day" marks Blumhouse's ninth film to open at No. 1 and its third to debut at No. 1 this year alone, following "Split" and "Get Out." The latest from producer Jason Blum and Universal Pictures, the film, about a woman who relives the day of her murder until she learns her killer's identity, earned a B rating on CinemaScore and a 64% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.