It was slim pickings at the movies this weekend. With a niche sci-fi horror franchise way past its prime offering yet another sequel as the only new entry this weekend, audiences seemed content to stay at home and save their money for something better.

Resident Evil: Afterlife, the fourth in the series, was the only debut this week, and as such enjoyed some attention. Thanks to zero competition and a healthy boost in prices from its 3D aspect, it enjoyed a $27 million opening, easily the largest opening of any movies in the franchise. Of course, that's not saying much. The previous three movies never saw the top of the $20 million mark on their kick-off weekends.

The movie also marks the return of Paul W. S. Anderson who directed the original film in the franchise. Fresh off his debacled remake of Death Race and the directorial disaster Aliens vs. Preadator, Anderson needed a win and got one in the form of Afterlife's opening.

Many other movies saw larger than usual drop offs as the movies head towards the October doldrums leading up to the holiday splurge. Machete fell particularly hard, dropping nearly 2/3 from its place last week.

For the full weekend estimates check out the chart below:

1. Resident Evil: Afterlife * $27,700,000  -  Total: $27,700,000 LW: N     WR: 1     THTRS: 3,203

2. Takers $6,100,000  -  Total: $48,105,000 LW: 3     WR: 3     THTRS: 2,191

3. The American $5,896,000  -  Total: $26,731,000 LW: 1     WR: 2     THTRS: 2,833

4. Machete $4,200,000  -  Total: $20,822,000 LW: 2     WR: 2     THTRS: 2,678

5. Going the Distance $3,835,000  -  Total: $14,000,000 LW: 5     WR: 2     THTRS: 3,030

6. The Other Guys $3,600,000  -  Total: $112,694,000 LW: 7     WR: 6     THTRS: 2,246

7. The Last Exorcism $3,450,000  -  Total: $38,190,000 LW: 4     WR: 3     THTRS: 2,731

8. The Expendables $3,250,000  -  Total: $98,490,000 LW: 6     WR: 5     THTRS: 3,058

9. Inception $3,015,000  -  Total: $282,425,000 LW: 9     WR: 9     THTRS: 1,583

10. Eat Pray Love $2,900,000  -  Total: $74,633,000 LW: 8     WR: 5     THTRS: 2,339