‘Happy Death Day’ slays the competition

THE NIGHTMARE time-loop movie “Happy Death Day” scared up the most money to grab the top spot at the box office on its opening weekend.

The “Groundhog Day”-like horror movie by Blumhouse Productions hauled in $26.5 million, according to studio estimates. It cost $5 million to make.

The film about a sullen sorority girl who becomes trapped in a time loop of death is the latest horror or suspense hit for the studio behind “Split” and “Get Out.”

Despite middling reviews, it surpassed the critically acclaimed “Blade Runner 2049.” The longanticipated sequel starring Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling came in second with $15.1 million over its second weekend in theaters.

The dystopian movie cost more than $150 million and took in $32.7 million last week.

The spy thriller “The Foreigner,” starring Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan, debuted third with $12.8 million. The horror movie “It” landed in fourth with $6.1 million.