"Goosebumps," the special effects-laden adaptation of the popular kids books starring Jack Black as a fictionalized version of author R.L. Stine, scared up the family audience to open atop the box office with $23.5 million, according to estimates.

"The word of mouth is just terrific. I think we were able to convey how much fun the film is for the entire family, no matter what their age," Rory Bruer, Sony's president of worldwide distribution, tells the Associated Press.

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"Goosebumps" just beat "The Martian," which brought in $21.5 million in its third week. Steven Spielberg's "Bridge of Spies" opened to a respectable $15.4 million and "Crimson Peak" had about $12.8 million in its debut.

Another family film, "Hotel Transylvania 2," finished fifth with about $12 million in its fourth week.