PARAMOUNT A WEEKEND WINNER — NO MATTER WHAT

Two low-budget and low-tech Paramount movies will be battling one another for top honors at the box office this weekend as Paranormal Activity 2 takes on Jackass 3D. Most box-office forecasters are predicting that Paranormal Activity 2 will emerge the winner with about $25-30 million, with Jackass 3D settling for about $20-25 million in its second week. (Paranormal was not screened in advance for critics, but since the studio “sneaked” it in several cities Thursday night, some critics attended the movie with other paying customers and quickly filed their reviews afterwards.) The two films also face a challenge — but not much of one — from Clint Eastwood’s Hereafter, starring Matt Damon, which opened in six theaters last weekend and is being given a full expansion this weekend. It’s expected to earn $10-15 million.

UPDATE:
Paramount’s Paranormal Activity 2 raked in a surprising $19 million on Friday, nearly as much as it was expected to earn over the entire weekend, according to studio estimates. Daily Variety said on its website that Jackass 3D was far behind in second place with $7.7 million. Hereafter opened in fourth place with $4 million.