Paranormal Activity 3 scares up $54m

Los Angeles - Paranormal Activity 3 didn't just go bump in the night. It made a ton of noise at the box office with a huge, $54m opening.

The third film in Paramount's low-budget horror franchise was No 1 at the box office, according to Sunday studio estimates. Part two also debuted in the top spot a year ago with $40.7m.

Paranormal Activity 3 is actually a prequel, with the discovery of disturbing home-movie footage from 1988. Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, who made the creepy documentary Catfish, took over directing duties this time.