Everybody already knew that Lionsgate had a Saw IV on the to-do list long before they needed to see the opening weekend receipts for Saw III. Hell, they also have a Saw V, VI and VII on the to-do list if the franchise keeps up pace.
Saw IV Gives More
Considered the best installment yet in the franchise, Saw III was able to kill the box office this weekend and earn itself box office reports such as "Saw This Coming."
Raking in an impressive $34.3 million during its opening week -- almost $3 million more than Saw II -- Saw III is looking to outperform any current competitor at the box office.
Touchstone's The Prestige slipped to third place with $9.6 million while Martin Scorsese's The Departed held its own at $9.8 million.
With the Saw franchise continuing to outdue itself every year, Lionsgate has turned the series into an annual ritual that won't stop with this third go.
According to AP, Lionsgate is already tracking a Saw IV for next year.
Since the low-budget Saw debuted with $18.3 million over the same weekend two years ago, Lionsgate has turned the franchise into an annual ritual with quickly produced sequels each Halloween.
The movies follow the diabolical schemes of psycho killer Jigsaw (Tobin Bell), who stages elaborate, bloody games to test the moral fiber of his victims. Lionsgate plans to have Saw IV in theaters over Halloween weekend next year.
"It's the biggest no-brainer of the century to put these movies out on Halloween weekend and wait for the money to roll in," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations.
Lionsgate is just following the old saying, "If it ain't broke, why fix it?"
Saw III is out in theatres now.
For more information and a review on the film, go to the Saw III Movie Page.
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