Annabelle has pipped Gone Girl to the top of the Friday Box Office. Both films opened on Friday (3rd October) but it's come as a surprise for commentators that the horror surpassed the acclaimed thriller. 

Gone Girl
Ben Affleck stars in Gone Girl.

Watch: The Movie Trailer For Annabelle.

Gone Girl has been highly praised by critics and is likely to be highly courted at next year's award ceremonies, it's been the prequel to The Conjuring, Annabelle, which has enchanted (or rather terrified) audiences. 

Annabelle, according to Box Office Mojo, made $15.5 million on Friday. Gone Girl came in second place with $13.2 million. Both films were way ahead of the rest of the competition with third place at the Box Office going to The Equalizer, which made $5.6 million. They were followed by The Maze Runner, which gained $3.43 million, and Boxtrolls with $2.74 million.

Read More: Gone Girl Review by Rich Cline.

Gone Girl
Gone Girl has been highly praised by critics and audiences alike.

There are a few reasons why it's incredible that Annabelle has become a major rival for Gone Girl. Firstly, Annabelle has no major Hollywood stars with Annabelle Wallis (Peaky Blinders) and Ward Horton (One Life To Live) featuring in the horror. Secondly Annabelle was such a low budget film to make, at around $7 million. Finally because horror does not tend to do as well as other genres such as action or fantasy adventure. 

In contrast, Gone Girl stars a number of high profile and well established actors including Ben Affleck (Runner Runner), Rosamund Pike (A Long Way Down) and Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother). The film also cost an impressive $61 million to make and, based on a popular book of the same name, is the sort of genre which audiences and critics enjoy - a thriller. 

Watch: The Movie Trailer For Gone Girl.

Annabelle
Annabelle has surpassed Gone Girl at the Box Office.