Texas Chainsaw 3-D takes No.1 spot in movie box office, followed by equally violent Django Unchained

In the midst of a national debate about gun violence following the tragic shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, Americans have made violent entertainment their top choice at the box office.

After three weekends at No. 1, part one of Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit" trilogy slipped into third place at the box office following the debut of Texas Chainsaw 3-D.

The horror sequel "Texas Chainsaw 3-D" debuted Friday and moved to the No. 1 box office slot with an estimated $23 million. The new movie picks up where 1974's "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" left off, with masked killer Leatherface on the loose again.

Holding on to the No. 2 spot for the second-straight weekend was Quentin Tarantino's revenge saga "Django Unchained", a film about a former slave who teams up with a bounty hunter to target the plantation owner who owns his wife, with $20.1 million. The movie received a 9/10 for violence from Kids-In-Mind, but despite recent debates to restrict or monitor gun ownership following the Newtown, Conn. shootings, Americans still relish violence in movies.

According to the Associated Press, nearly two-thirds of the audience was under 25, too young — or not even born — when earlier "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" movies came out. "Texas Chainsaw" drew a hefty 84 percent of its business from the more lifelike 3-D screenings. Most newly released movies draw 50 percent or less of their revenue from 3-D screenings, but horror fans preferred paying extra to see blood and guts fly with an added dimension.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "Texas Chainsaw 3-D," $23 million.

2. "Django Unchained," $20.1 million.

3. "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," $17.5 million ($57.1 million international).

4. "Les Miserables," $16.1 million ($14.5 million international).

5. "Parental Guidance," $10.1 million.

6. "Jack Reacher," $9.3 million ($22.3 million international).

7. "This Is 40," $8.6 million.

8. "Lincoln," $5.3 million.

9. "The Guilt Trip," $4.5 million.

10. "Promised Land," $4.3 million.