Enlarge By John P. Johnson, Warner Bros. Pictures Friday the 13th, starring Jared Padalecki, earned $42.4 million this weekend. Friday the 13th scared up the largest debut on record for a horror film, taking in $42.4 million this weekend, according to studio estimates from box office tracking firm Media By Numbers. The debut was $17 million more than many analysts projected and trounced the record held by 2004's The Grudge, the previous highest-opening horror film with $39 million. TOP 10 FILMS: See how your favorites fared at the multiplex The 12th film to spring from the 1980 original is good news for studios rushing to reboot classic horror titles. Remakes of A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Wolf Man and The Last House on the Left are headed to the big screen. The romantic comedy He's Just Not That Into You was second with $19.6 million, bringing its 10-day total to $55.1 million. The thriller Taken also held well, taking third place with $19.3 million. The Liam Neeson picture has done $77.9 million in three weeks. The Isla Fisher comedy Confessions of a Shopaholic met most expectations with $15.4 million, good for fourth place, while the animated Coraline took $15.3 million and fifth place. The only other major newcomer, Clive Owen's political thriller The International, was seventh with $10 million, meeting most projections. Ticket sales surged 28% over last weekend and 43% over the same weekend last year. Final figures are due Tuesday because of the Presidents Day weekend. Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more