"Couples Retreat" Enjoys Massive Success in Opening Weekend

"Couples Retreat," the new movie that reunites friends Vince Vaughn and John Favreau, grossed $35.3 million in its opening weekend. The pair of friends has found newfound success together after initially entering the national consciousness with their film "Swingers." Universal Pictures, which put out the movie and was hoping to top $20 million in the opening weekend, was pleasantly surprised with the better-than-expected draw, which comes on the heals of the studio replacing top men Marc Shmuger and David Linde.

Adam Fogelson and Donna Langley replaced the pair, who took positions elsewhere in the studio. That mixup occurred after a disappointing summer that saw Will Ferrell’s "Land of the Lost" and Adam Sandler’s "Funny People" underachieve greatly at the box office. Nikki Rocoo, head of distribution for Universal, noted, "I feel pretty good today. Happy to have a hit. It happened at the right time, because it did lift our spirits, having the summer we had."

Aside from Favreau and Vaughn, the film also featured Jason Bateman, Kristin Davis, Kristen Bell and Malin Akerman and focuses on a group of couples who visit an island therapy resort to work on their relationships. The other big surprise of the weekend was "Paranormal Activity," a low-budget film that was released in a small number of theaters in 13 cities throughout the U.S. Invoking memories of "The Blair Witch Project," the film was shot for $15,000 and is relying on word of mouth promotion to become a box office hit. The movie released in fewer than 200 theaters nationwide and did $7.1 million in its opening weekend.