LOS ANGELES, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- "The Devil Inside" took the No. 1 spot at the U.S. box office during the weekend with $34.5 million in gross box office receipts.
Variety said it was the best ever domestic debut to start a new year.
"Devil" is also the third-highest January debut, behind 2008's "Cloverfield," with $40.1 million, and the 1997's "Star Wars" reissue, with $35.9 million opening in 1997, the newspaper said. Both of those films were launched in mid- to late-January.
"Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol" was second with $20.5 million; "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" third with $14.1 million; "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" fourth with $11.3 million.
"Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," expanding to 809 theaters, up approximately 750 from last weekend, landed in the top 10 with $5.8 million, Variety said.
