Senator/Ghost House Pictures' Japanese horror remake The Grudge, released through Columbia Pictures inthe US, stayed top in its second weekend as it added an estimated $22.4m for a$71.3m running total.

The picture fell 43% in its second weekend, less than thepredicted 50%, and is expected to pass $90m at the domestic box office.

Opening in second on $20.1m was Universal's Ray, starring the hotly tipped Jamie Foxx asthe late soul singer Ray Charles.

Kerry Washington and Regina King also star in Taylor Hackford'sbiopic, which drew excellent reviews and averaged $10,109 on 2,006 screens.

Lions Gate's low-budget horror picture Saw opened third to mixed reviews on aphenomenal $17.4m, averaging $7,516 on 2,315 screens.

Cary Elwes and Leigh Whannell play two strangers who wake up in atorture chamber without knowing how or why they are there. James Wan's picturealso stars Danny Glover and Monica Potter.

DreamWorks' animated hit Shark Tale fell two places to fourth on $8m for$147.4m in its fifth weekend, while Miramax's romantic comedy Shall We Dance'fell two to fifth on$6.3m for $33.9m.

Elsewhere, Universal's Friday Night Lights passed $50m in its fourth weekend as itfell two to fourth on $4.1m for a $52.9m running total.

Overall the top 12 films grossed $92.8m, climbing roughly 3%against the same period last weekend.

New Line's $20m supernatural drama Birth opened disappointingly, ranking 11th on$1.7m for a $3,090 average on 550 screens.

Jonathan Glazer's picture stars Nicole Kidman as a grieving motherwho becomes convinced that the spirit of her dead husband resides in the bodyof a 10-year-old boy.

Next weekend's major release is Pixar's The Incredibles, released through Buena Vista, whichfeatures the voice talents of Samuel L Jackson, Holly Hunter and Craig TNelson.

Estimated Top Ten US Oct 29-31 2004

Film (Distributor)/International distribution/Estimated weekendgross/Estimated total to date

1 (1) The Grudge (Sony) Senator International $22.4m $71.3m

2 (-) Ray (Universal)UIP $20.1m -

3 (-) Saw(Lions Gate) LGFI $17.4m -

4 (2) Shark Tale (DreamWorks) UIP $8m $147.4m

5 (3) Shall We Dance' (Miramax) Miramax International/BVI $6.3m $33.9m

6 (4) Friday Night Lights (Imagine/Universal) UIP/various $4.1m $52.9m

7 (6) Ladder 49 (Buena Vista) BVI/Summit $3.3m $66.2m

8 (5) Team America: World Police (Paramount) UIP $3.1m $27.3m

9 (7) Surviving Christmas (DreamWorks) UIP $2.6m $8.1m

10 (8) Taxi (Fox) Fox Int'l $2.2m $32.7m