Goosebumps scares up US box office

Family horror film Goosebumps scared audiences up a treat at the North American box office at the weekend.

The movie, based on the popular children's book series, took $23.5m (£15.2m) in its first three days.

It stars Jack Black as horror writer RL Stine, whose imaginary demon creations are accidentally set free in a small town.

Ridley Scott's space adventure The Martian was bumped into second place, taking $21.5m (£13.9m).

The Matt Damon film has now taken $143.8m (£93m) in its third week of release.

Steven Spielberg's cold-war thriller Bridge of Spies, starring Tom Hanks, opened at number three with $15.4m (£10m).

Guillermo del Toro's gothic horror romance Crimson Peak did not fare as well in the Halloween period, debuting at four with $12.8m (£8.3m).

However with an R-rating - where those under 17 need to be accompanied by a parent of guardian to see the film - it was expected to have a more limited audience than the PG-rated Goosebumps.