Among the other new holiday films this year, horror film Deliver Us From Evil opened to roughly $15 million for the five days, versus the expected $20 million. For the weekend, it took in $9.5 million, putting it in a dead heat with fellow Sony title 22 Jump Street for the No. 3 spot.
Marking the summer’s first studio horror film, the R-rated movie follows a New York cop (Eric Bana) who teams with a renegade priest (Edgar Ramirez) schooled in exorcisms to eradicate a series of possessions striking New York City. The movie, directed by Scott Derrickson and earning a B+ CinemaScore, is inspired by the book co-written by real-life cop Ralph Sarchie. Deliver Us From Evil cost $30 million to produce.
Earth to Echo, earning an A- CinemaScore, posted a tepid five-day debut of $13.5 million. For the weekend itself, it was beat out by family holdover How to Train Your Dragon 2 ($8.8 million versus $8.2 million). Earth to Echo placed No. 6.