"Exorcist: The Beginning" cast out its production demons and broke away from a crowded pack of late-summer titles to claim the weekend's top spot.

Playing at 2,803 theaters, the Morgan Creek-financed, Warner Bros.-distribbed pic grossed $18.2 million.

The stronger-than-expected opening from "Exorcist" came as a relief to those involved. Despite the 1973 original's $401 million worldwide gross and $112 million more for the 2000 release of William Friedkin's director's cut, two subsequent sequels were disappointments.

Source: Variety [1]