“Sinister 2” scared its competition, launching with $850,000 at 2,100 U.S. sites on Thursday night. Meanwhile, “Hitman: Agent 47” grabbed $600,000 from 2,500 locations and “American Ultra” nabbed $425,000 during preview screenings.

Focus Features’ “Sinister 2” is expected to wind up the weekend in second place in the $15 million to $18 million range, while forecasts for Fox’s “Hitman” have been between $10 million and $12 million. Neither is expected to challenge the second frame of Universal/Legendary’s “Straight Outta Compton,” which will dominate the box office with around $30 million as the studio adds more than 200 theaters to its current 2,757 locations.

“Sinister 2,” launched by Focus’ Gramercy Pictures in 2,758 theaters, stars Shannyn Sossamon and James Ransone in the story of a mother and her two sons who move into a rural house haunted by an evil spirit. The film, which costs under $10 million, is the latest from horror specialist Blumhouse.

The original “Sinister” was a major hit in 2012 with $88 million in worldwide grosses on a $3 million budget.

Lionsgate’s opening of action-comedy “American Ultra” isn’t showing much traction, despite the star power of Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart. It will wind up the weekend in the $6 million to $8 million range.

“Straight Outta Compton” stunned Hollywood last weekend with a $60.2 million domestic debut and added another $20 million in its next three days. The N.W.A biopic should cross the $100 million mark by Sunday.