To the surprise of absolutely no one, The Grudge 2 opened strongly on August 23, with a screen average of $99,892 in its first week on release in Japan.

A follow-up to the 2002 hit shocker The Grudge, the film features the same director, Takashi Shimizu, the same ghosts and the even the same haunted house, though the victims, of course, are all new.

The film benefited from, not only fan familiarity with The Grudge, but the lack of competition in what is traditionally a hot season for horror in the Japanese market.

It also got a boost from the publicity surrounding the Hollywood remake of The Grudge, with remake rights purchaser Sam Raimi getting prominent play in the film's trailer.