By Bill Wine

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – October’s first box office crown was taken by Taken 2.

The action-thriller sequel, starring Liam Neeson, earned an estimated $50 million and a strong first-place finish on its initial weekend.

Last weekend’s ticket-selling leader – the animated comedy, Hotel Transylvania – had a productive weekend, taking in another $26 million for a solid second-place finish.

Third place went to the new musical comedy, Pitch Perfect, with just under $15 million.

The holdover thriller, Looper, took fourth with $12 million, while the animated attraction, Frankenweenie, from director Tim Burton, debuted in fifth place with over $11 million.

Overall, industry-wide totals were over fifty percent higher than those on the counterpart weekend last year.