"Hotel Transylvania" became the best movie premiere in September over the weekend, as the feature cartoon from Sony Pictures is set on pace for a 43 million U.S. dollars opening which effectively puts an end to the post- summer box office gloom in North America.

The film, released by Sony Pictures Animation, fared better than what studio executive had expected. On Saturday, it roped in 19 million dollars in ticket sales, representing the biggest single September day ever. It enjoyed the widest screen locations, 3,349, and led with a pre-location average of 12,840 dollars.

The animated kids flick is the biggest debut in two month after "Dark Knight Rises" raked in 160 million dollars on July 20. It also best "Sweet Home Alabama" for best debut of the month which opened with 35.6 million dollars in 2002.

The 3-D animated movie features voices lent by Adam Sandler, who plays an overly protective Dracula and hotel owner, and other actors. It is mainly driven by families, which make up 76 percent, and youngsters due to its good word of mouth. Of those who has seen it, 24 percent was 12 years old, and women make up 60 percent. It received an "A-" CinemaScore.

Sony enjoyed a bumper harvest this weekend, as another film " Looper" opened in No. 2 with 21.2 million dollars in receipt. The TriStar and Film District's sci-fi thriller, produced in China, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis. Fifty-nine percent of those who saw it was male, and 70 percent was 25 years or older. Those who have seen the thriller liked it, and assigned a "B" CinemaScore to it.

Thanks to the 1-2 punch, Sony shot to No. 1 in North America market share with 1.285 billion dollars, edging out Warner Bros., according to statistics released by Sony.

"End of Watch," a Jake Gyllenhaal vehicle which is released by the Open Road Pictures, was estimated to garner 8 million dollars in tickets and is on track for a 26.2 million sum for two weeks. " Trouble With The Curve," a Warner Bros. drama starring Clint Eastwood, settled for No. 4 with 7.5 million dollars this week and a two-week cume of 23.7 million dollars.

"House at the End of the Street" played in fifth slot. The Jennifer Lawrence vehicle was en route for a 7.2 million dollar weekend. It is on track for a 22.2 million running two-week total.

As the weekend's other wide opener, "Won't Back Down," distributed by 20th Century Fox, only managed to take in 2.7 million dollars in ticket sales from 2,515 venues to finish as No. 8.

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