The creepy horror movie took nearly $3.2 million (£2 million), seeing off comedy remake 21 Jump Street. The Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum cop caper could only manage a second place debut after earning $2.5 million (£1.6 million).

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel dropped one place to third with $2.4 million (£1.5 million), while last week's (begs12Mar12) number one John Carter fell to fourth place ($1.6 million/£1 million).

Matt Damon's We Bought a Zoo could only manage fifth place in its first week of release, with $1.3 million (£850,000).

Contraband, Daniel Radcliffe's The Woman in Black, This Means War, The Muppets and Safe House rounded out the top ten.