Well, once again, if I make a prediction, you can pretty much rush off to the betting parlor and put money down on the exact opposite. I figured that Paranormal Activity would win this weekend thanks to its buzz and its slightly wider release, but adding another 600 theaters didn't spike profits like I had imagined it would. While the expanded horror picked up $20 million (or $26,500 per screen), it could only manage third at the box office.

First place went to Where The Wild Things Are, Spike Jonze's big-budget adaptation of the classic children's book (review here). The story of Max and his monsters rang up an impressive $32.4 million at the box office this weekend, winning first by a wide margin. That's understandable, but what's unconscionable is that Law Abiding Citizen ($21.25) took second. Seriously! That movie? Ugh, no accounting for taste, I suppose.

Couples Retreat retreats from first last weekend to fourth this weekend, on grosses of $17.9 million. Again, repeat that thing about "accounting for taste" but with a bit more disgust. I never thought Jon Favreau would be the thin one.

The Stepfather rounds out the top five, with a fifth-place debut good for $12.3 million. Given that it's a remake of an obscure movie and it only has a PG-13 rating, that's not too shabby. I'm surprised it's that high, but given that it's October and horror always does fairly well, it's not a huge shocker. It'll fade out quickly.

Unfortunately for Zombieland, it seems to be fading out pretty quickly, too. Last week's second place film drops to seventh this weekend on $7.8 million. Sadly, it has been lapped by Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, which took in $8.1 million for fifth place. I guess the novelty has worn off, but I'll go see it sometime this week (again) to add more to its profits before it leaves theaters.

There'll be another crowded weekend next weekend. To follow the Toy Story/Toy Story 2 (eighth place, $3 million) model, Tim Burton's A Nightmare Before Christmas is getting a small 3D re-release. Also out is the traditional Halloween Saw release (now on Saw VI!) and Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant. The costume drama Amelia, though not in wide release, might crack the top 10 in its 800 theaters as well. Saw will undoubtedly take this one, even if the trailer is basically reminding everyone of the five (or should I say V?) previous Saws.

It's not a big slate, but there's enough to push out holdovers like Surrogates (ninth place, $1.922 million) and The Invention Of Lying (tenth place, $1.905 million).

Surrogates really faded quickly, didn't it? It's bringing in pretty much no money and is still screening in a ton of theaters. Given its relative cost, it might be the biggest bust of Bruce Willis' career, but it's not far off from the performance of his recent non-John McClane outings.

As for Ricky Gervais, Adult Swim has been showing The Office UK lately, so maybe this will help raise his profile. Honestly, I think the best thing he could do right now is get himself in some sort of ensemble comedy with a bankable American star and try to turn a good supporting role (in a Todd Phillips movie) into a star-maker, because these kinds of movies just aren't doing it. Maybe he won't break through here regardless, but it's a proven way to success for other quirky-looking comedians.