MUMBAI: Paramount’s Paranormal Activity 3, a $5 million low-budget horror movie, has mopped up $80 million from the box office over the weekend.

The film earned $54 million from US and Canadian theatres, the highest debut for a horror movie and the biggest October debut ever in those markets, according to the studio. Jackass 3-D had an opening of $50.4 million last year.

The R-rated horror prequel made $26 million from international markets.

The movie is about two young sisters and their creepy encounters with an invisible presence in their home, all recorded by surveillance cameras.

Horror movies generally attract teenagers and young adults. Paranormal Activity 3 also brought in viewers over 25 years of age.

The Three Musketeers and Johhny English Reborn, the weekend’s two other releases, had sluggish ticket sales. A 3D action version of the classic novel, The Three Musketeers grossed $73.2 million, with $8.8 million coming from US and Canadian theatres, as it failed to draw in younger moviegoers.

Jhnny English Reborn, which had a better run overseas, grossed just $3.8 million in the North American market. The British spy comedy had travelled in other markets before releasing in America, collecting $104.5 million over five weeks.