The Ring, DreamWorks remake of the 1998 Japanese phenomenon Ringu, was golden at the boxoffice over the weekend. The supernatural chiller, featuring visual effects by Rhythm & Hues, Tippett Studio and Asylum, brought in an estimated $15 million to grab the No.1 spot and stomp the fire out of Red Dragon.
The first chapter in the Hannibal Lecter saga fell to the No. 3 spot as Sweet Home Alabama clung to second place on its way to the coveted $100 million mark. Other newcomers Abandon and Formula 51 saw weak openings, coming in at sixth and 12th place respectively.
Amidst a sea of adult-oriented offerings, the CG animated family flick Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie swam upstream from No. 11 to No. 8 with wider release in its third week. The film brought in another $4 million for Big Idea and Artisan, surpassing its production budget by more than $2 million.