WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: 'Conjuring' Frightens the Masses During Overcrowded Weekend Frame

With four new releases launching onto the big screen this weekend, Despicable Me 2's impressive back-to-back run as the top film at the box office was set to end.

The Conjuring starring Patrick Wilson (Insidious) and Vera Farmiga (Bates Motel) scared up a first place finish with an estimated $42 million, setting a horror record for  non-sequels, prequels or reboots. The Conjuring also is a career high for director James Wan (Saw, Insidious).

Dropping to the second place, Illumination Entertainment's Despicable Me 2 continued to fend off the other three new releases, Turbo, RED 2 and R.I.P.D. with another $25 million added to its $276 million 3-week run. Despicable Me 2 is now the highest grossing animated film from the past three years.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: Raunchy 'Grown Ups' Sequel Edges Out 'Pacific Rim; 'Despicable Me 2' Repeats

The Minions from Despicable Me 2 may have conquered the box office for a second week in a row, but the most asked question coming out of the weekend was how Adam Sandler's toilet humor antics attracted a slightly larger audience than giant robots clanking metal with Godzilla.

Grown Ups 2 and Pacific Rim clashed head-to-head for the #2 and #3 spots over the weekend, however Adam Sandler's comedy emerged victorious with $42.5 million to Pacific Rim's $38 million. Grown Ups 2 and Pacific Rim appeal to two completely polarizing demographics, but both films still fell short of Despicable Me 2's second weekend haul, opening close to $45 million.

Despicable Me 2 continues its assault on the summer box office, breaking the $200 million milestone in 12 days of release. Only Toy Story 3 and Shrek 2 reached $200 million a few days faster with both finishing above $400 million at the box office. 
   

'Jack and Jill' Fails to Conjure Up Twin Magic

That's Adam Sandler...and Adam Sandler and that's more than one too many.

We all have relatives that get on our nerves, but there is a fine line between tolerating someone for their annoyances and having that sudden urge to lock oneself in the room when it’s time for that holiday get-together. Take Jack (Adam Sandler), a commercial director who knows that a peaceful Thanksgiving with his wife Katie Holmes and two children is out of the question.  

Dreading the arrival of his awkward, unattractive and needy twin sister, Jill (also played by Sandler), Jack manages every possible solution to ensure the holidays don’t go up in flames. But what was initially intended to be a quick Thanksgiving stay, extends longer than expected, through Hanukkah and New Years, aggravating Jack to no end.