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The box office forecast for "Cloud Atlas" is looking quite dreary, according to early estimates. "Atlas," directed by the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer, has a decent shot at topping the crowded pre-Halloween weekend, but the adventure-fantasy, which cost over $100 million, is on track for a chilly $13 million debut in the U.S.

Distributed by Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Pictures, "Paranormal Activity 4" took in $30.2 million in its first weekend in theaters in North America, a significant drop from the opening haul of the third film in the franchise, which earned $52.6 million.

Liam Neeson's "Taken 2" has defended its box-office title with a narrow win over Ben Affleck's "Argo." Sunday studio estimates put 20th Century Fox's action sequel "Taken 2" at No. 1 with $22.5 million in its second weekend. "Taken 2" raised its domestic total to $86.8 million.

Kevin James comedy "Here Comes the Boom" is soft; "Atlas Shrugged: Part 2" hasn't yet galvanized conservative moviegoers. Summit Entertainment's microbudgeted horror pic Sinister stole the show at the Friday box office, grossing $7.5 million and beating holdover Taken 2 and Ben Affleck's new political thriller Argo.

The Liam Neeson action pic grosses $50 million in North America and $55 million overseas; musical comedy "Pitch Perfect" turns in a solid $14.7 million domestically, while Tim Burton's "Frankenweenie" falters with $11.5 million.

Liam Neeson and ‘Taken 2” are looking at a $48 million weekend after blasting past their box office rivals Friday and rolling to a first-day total of $18.6 million. The gangbusters debut for Fox’s PG13-rated action sequel marks the second consecutive week a movie has broken out and lifted the box office into positive territory. If the weekend stays on pace, it will finish more than 30 percent ahead of last year, when “Real Steel” lead the way with a $27 million debut.

"Looper" and musical comedy "Pitch Perfect" also score strong starts; education drama "Won't Back Down" flunks... According to early estimates, Hotel Transylvania -- boasting a voice cast led by Adam Sandler, Kevin James and Selena Gomez -- grossed an estimated $11 million on Friday for a $38 million to $40 million weekend. The 3D toon earned an A- CinemaScore overall, and an A from females and kids under the age of 18.

Jennifer Lawrence's "House at the End of the Street," Jake Gyllenhaal cop drama "End of Watch" and Clint Eastwood's "Trouble With the Curve" all earn in the $12.7 million to $13 million range. Adding intrigue to an otherwise blah weekend, Hollywood was unable to declare a box office winner on Sunday as a trio of films all landed in the same range.

Paul Thomas Anderson's cult drama "The Master" commanded a huge following in its opening weekend, smashing records on just a handful of screens.

"Resident Evil: Retribution" grossed $21.1 million from 3,012 North American locations for a No. 1 opening, while "The Master" earned an impressive $729,745 from just five locations.