Resident Evil: Apocalypse According to The Hollywood Reporter, Screen Gems' Resident Evil: Apocalypse racked up a winning score at the boxoffice this weekend, exceeding expectations with an estimated $23.7 million to claim the top spot.

The R-rated sci-fi-horror-actioner, starring Milla Jovovich and helmed by first-time director Alexander Witt, was the third-best opening ever in September and outstripped the first film's $17.7 million debut. The box office signal from New Line Cinema's Cellular, while not exceptional, was clear and in the area anticipated on its opening frame. The Kim Basinger starrer, from director Davis Richard Ellis, dialed up an estimated $10.6 million to take the second spot and marks a personal best for Basinger in a starring role.

Chris Evans and William H. Macy co-star in the taut thriller. Paramount's Without a Paddle continues to swim strongly at the box office with low week-to-week percentage drops. The low-budget comedy starring Seth Green, Matthew Lillard and Dax Shepard was in the third spot with an estimated $4.6 million, down just 35% from a week earlier, moving the cume to an estimated $45.6 million.