(Los Angeles) The horror film Five Nights at Freddy’s created a surprise by dethroning pop superstar Taylor Swift at the top of the North American box office, according to figures published Sunday by the specialist firm Exhibitor Relations.

The feature film, inspired by a video game, features haunted animatronic mascots who seek to kill a night security guard, played by Josh Hutcherson, and his little sister in an old pizzeria with abandoned arcade games.

For its release, which coincides with the pre-Halloween weekend, the film raked in $78 million in revenue, a “fantastic” start, according to specialist David Gross of FranchiseRe.

Five Nights at Freddy’s” thus climbs into the top 5 of the best releases for a horror film in the United States after the films in the It saga based on the novel by Stephen King. And this is even if the reviews are “bad,” according to Mr. Gross.

Singer Taylor Swift’s concert film The Eras Tour, which includes scenes filmed at three different concerts, was a distant second, with $14.7 million.

Since its release, it has grossed $149.3 million in North America, with fans of the country music singer sometimes showing up in cowboy boots to the screening.

Killers of the Flower Moon, Martin Scorsese’s latest work, slips into third position with $9 million for its second week in theaters.

The film, lasting three hours 26 minutes, which brings together the director’s two favorite actors, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, recounts the murders that targeted the Osage Native American people to monopolize their oil wealth, in Oklahoma early 20th century.

In fourth place, the Christian documentary After Death about near-death experiences raked in $5.1 million in its first week.

Right after that, The Exorcist: Believer grossed $3.1 million.

Like the original, the film revolves around characters possessed by supernatural forces, with faces covered in wounds, against the backdrop of a sometimes anxiety-provoking soundtrack and with an appearance by Ellen Burstyn from the 1973 production.

6. PAW Patrol : The Mighty Movie (2,2 millions de dollars)

7. Freelance (2,1 millions)

8. The Nightmare Before Christmas (2 millions)

9. Saw X (1,7 million)

10. The Creator (1 million)