Goosebumps tops Box Office

“Goosebumps” rode a wave of Clinton-era nostalgia to the top of the box office charts, as the adaptation of the popular children's book series earned $23.5 million in its opening weekend.

That just edged out Fox's “The Martian”, the science-fiction smash that was trying to be the number one picture for a third week in a row. The story of a stranded astronaut added $21.5 million to its $143.8 million haul.

It was a crowded time at the multiplexes, as four new releases faced off for audiences' attention. Aside from “Goosebumps,” the weekend's best performer was “Bridge of Spies”, the Steven Spielberg Cold War drama that capitalised on good reviews and Oscar buzz by nabbing $15.4 million. “Crimson Peak” fared less well. The Gothic romance from Guillermo del Toro proved too niche for mainstream crowds, falling flat with a $12.6 million debut. “Woodlawn”, the story of a high school football team that makes a playoff run after finding religion, was the weekend's other major wide release.