Universal’s low-budget/no-budget horror strategy is paying dividends this fall, as they’re set to break even on “Ouija” within days of opening. Deadline.com figures that, based on Friday’s $8 million+ take, it’ll manage about $19 million.

Unless Friday’s filmgoers warn off those planning on catching it Saturday. Dreadfully acted horror film with nary a fright in it.

“John Wick” almost constitutes a comeback for Keanu Reeves. A hitman thriller in the “Sin City” vein, a complete world of mobsters, hitmen, Hitmen Hotels and the like, it shows the mellow man in action and makes great use of him. It is headed towards a $15 million opening. The reviews are a bit over the top, decent film, mostly good performance by the lead, GREAT villain and nice support work by Willem Dafoe and Adrienne Paliki.

“Fury” fell off, “Gone Girl” is well over $120, “The Book of Life” is holding audience but underperforming, still.  It will be lucky to hit $50. Bad year for animation. Even when the quality is there, as with this one and “Boxtrolls,” parents aren’t shelling out the cash to 3D their kids into these films.

And Bill Murray’s cutesie little star vehicle, “St. Vincent,” is opening HUGE as it goes wide.  For a boutique studio film, anyway. It will settle in at number 6, and manage $8-9 million. Murray is set up now as a resident of “Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 3” when that comes around. Adorable in his dotage.