The Todd Phillips directed Joker hits the top of the US box office ahead of expectation and breaks the American October debut record while Abominable falls to number 2.

Joker

Starring Joaquin Phoenix as the title character the DC villain movie has had its fair share of controversy, but good reviews, especially the performance of Phoenix has helped it to a $96.2 Million debut weekend.

This beats the record for the top October opening, held by last years superhero villain movie Venom, which took $80.3 Million this weekend last year.

This is a very different film and with Oscar potential for lead actor this could have a good run.

Abominable

The animated movie from Dreamworks falls from the top to number 2 this weekend with a gross of $11.2 Million.

This takes the well received films total gross after 2 weeks to $37.7 Million.

Downton Abbey

The British made film about the famous stately home falls to 3 this week with a weekend take of $7.9 Million.

This takes the films total US gross to a very respectable $73.6 Million after 3 weeks of release.

Hustlers

Director Lorene Scafaria take on strippers who take revenge falls to number 4 this week with $6.4 Million.

The film has now taken a excellent $91.4 Million after 4 weeks of release and should hit the $100 Million mark by next weekend.

IT Chapter Two

Andy Muschietti horror sequel has done better than initially though on release and this week slips to number 5 with $5.3 Million which pushes the films total to $202.1 Million after 4 weeks of release.

The Lion King

Disney's remake is the film with the longest run on the this weeks US box office as it spends its 12 week inside the top 15 with a total gross of $541.2 Million.