We needed “Paranormal Activity 4” about as much as we needed “Taken 2“, but people showed up to see it in greatish numbers; the scary-noises sequel grossed $30.2 million to easily take the box-office crown … easily outpacing Ben Affleck’s “Argo“, which held onto second place with a respectable $16.6 million.

“Hotel Transylvania” crept up to third place with $13.5 million; “Taken 2” was a very close fourth with $13.4 million.

This week’s other big new title, “Alex Cross“, opened in sixth place with a pretty meagre $11.8 million, suggesting that maybe Tyler Perry needn’t put away that housedress just yet. This is the very definition of a pyrrhic victory.