Friday Report: 'Resident Evil' Reaps Solid Start
On Friday, Resident Evil: Afterlife was the only new game in town, and it easily dominated the box office with an opening day within the normal range of its series. Overall business was down from the same Friday last year, when there were more new releases, and was typically quiet for a post-Labor Day session.

Resident Evil: Afterlife racked up an estimated $10.9 million on approximately 4,700 screens at 3,203 locations. That was the highest-grossing opening day yet for the Resident Evil franchise, topping the $9.6 million of the last movie, Resident Evil: Extinction. However, in terms of estimated attendance, Afterlife likely ranked last and slightly behind the first movie: Afterlife only seemed more popular due to general ticket price inflation and the movie's premium for the 3D illusion. Still, the fourth movie being in the same league as its predecessors is indicative of the franchise's consistent appeal.

The American and Takers were neck-and-neck, with estimates giving a slight edge to American. The George Clooney thriller nabbed an estimated $1.79 million, down a steep 53 percent from last Friday, which brought its total to $24.2 million in ten days. Takers grabbed an estimated $1.78 million, off a standard 42 percent, and its sum grew to $43.8 million in 16 days.

Machete bled 66 percent to an estimated $1.33 million, though it had a smaller drop than its source movie, Grindhouse, and has grossed more through the same point with $17.9 million in eight days. Dipping 42 percent to an estimated $1.30 million, Going the Distance held the best among last weekend's new releases, but that's little consolation considering its $11.5 million tally in eight days.

Meanwhile, The Other Guys and Inception continued to see small declines. Other Guys eased 27 percent to an estimated $1 million, lifting its total to $110.1 million in 36 days. Inception descended 28 percent to an estimated $835,000, increasing its sum to a mighty $280.2 million in 57 days.

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Daily Grosses for Friday, Sept. 10