'Cloud Atlas' Flops, Hurricane Sandy To Blame For Slow Weekend Box Office?

It was a slow weekend for the box office as Hurricane Sandy rocks the Atlantic seaboard of the U.S. and dampers ticket sales, with many people living in its path bracing themselves in preparation.

"Argo," topped the box office with $12.3 million this weekend for a gross of $60.7. The film starring and directed by Ben Affleck is in its third weekend since being released and has maintained within the top three spots since its debut.

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The number two spot went to "Hotel Transylvania" from Sony Pictures Animation, which took in an additional $9.5 million for a gross of $130.4 million. The film has surpassed Sony's "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" to become the company's highest- grossing release yet.

The biggest disappointment was the opening of the epic "Cloud Atlas," which came in third. The film only took in $9.4 million out of its $100 million budget. The film has had mixed reviews by critics and is said to be one of Academy Award winner Tom Hanks' worst openings, with some comparing it to the 2011 film "Larry Crowne" starring Hanks and Julia Roberts.

Adult Halloween movies took the fourth and fifth spots.

"Paranormal Activity 4" came in fourth making $8.6 million and "Silent Hill: Revelations 3D" followed with $8 million.

The box office results were lower than what the industry had expected most likely due in part to Hurricane Sandy.

The hurricane did impact Broadway shows in New York City, as the storm caused parts of the metropolis to be evacuated. Some of the canceled performances included "Annie," "Chicago," "Phantom of the Opera" and "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark."

Another factor that subdued big box office results were early parties for Halloween, which is on Wednesday and made many people in the 18-to-34-year-old demographic too busy to see a movie.