Rap-Up Reports:

Texas Chainsaw 3D slayed the competition at the box office this weekend thanks in part to Trey Songz. The horror flick, which marks the R&B superstar’s first major film role, opened at No. 1 with $23 million.

The remake of Tobe Hooper’s 1974 classic beat out the competition including Django Unchained ($20.1 million), The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey ($17.5 million), and Les Misérables ($16.1 million).

The “Heart Attack” singer played a big part in the film’s success. According to exit polls, one in three moviegoers said Songz was the reason they went to see the movie.

“Nobody expected Texas Chainsaw to reach the top,” said Paul Dergarabedian of Hollywood.com (via USA Today). “And we were foolish not to. These horror movies do really well, and this is one of the biggest brands. Young moviegoers clearly wanted a scare to start the new year, [and] nothing says Happy New Year’s like a leather mask and a chain saw.”

Texas Chainsaw 3D cost around $20 million to produce and scored the second-highest opening of any Chainsaw film following 2003’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

PARTNER LINKS: