Sony Screen Gems’ low budget genre thriller Escape Room nearly took down the superhero powerhouse known as Aquaman at this weekend’s box office.

Early showings were packed for the Adam Robitel-directed film in which six strangers find themselves locked in the world’s hardest (and deadliest) escape rooms and must use their wits to survive. John Squires and I loved it, with Trace calling it “a game worth playing.”

The strong showings continued throughout the weekend as the genre film – in the vein of Saw and Final Destination – overperformed with an estimated $18M at the domestic box office. For those who have seen Escape Room, Screen Gems now has a franchise on their hands and a horror title that can annually fill their January slate (much like Resident Evil and Underworld did in the past). With a reported budget of just $9M, this opening almost guarantees a sequel. Watch this spot for international numbers as they arrive.

The players of Escape Room include Logan Miller from Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, Deborah Ann Woll from “True Blood” and Mother’s Day, and even Tucker and Dale vs. Evil’s Tyler Labine.