“Mama,” in which a shadowy being trails two young children who were rescued after being lost in the woods when their parents died, screamed into first place with $32.1 million as it debuted on a four-day US holiday weekend.

It stars Jessica Chastain, who last week won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of a CIA officer in the acclaimed but controversial “Zero Dark Thirty.” That film took in $18.6 million in its second weekend on national release, according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

The dark romantic comedy “Silver Linings Playbook,” coming off a best comedy actress Globe win for star Jennifer Lawrence, zoomed to third place from 10th last week, raking in $12.7 million at the weekend box office.

In fourth place was the Sean Penn action flick “Gangster Squad,” with $10.1 million, just barely ahead of “A Haunted House” at $9.47 million.

They were trailed by newcomer “Broken City,” a crime drama starring Mark Wahlberg and Russell Crowe, which earned $9.46 million, and Quentin Tarantino's blood-soaked spaghetti Western tribute “Django Unchained,” with $9.2 million.

Musical adaptation “Les Miserables” took eighth place, taking in just over $9.0 million. “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the first part of Peter Jackson's “Lord of the Rings” prequel trilogy was in ninth at $7.6 million.

Rounding out the top 10 was Arnold Schwarzenegger's new action flick “The Last Stand,” which earned $7.2 million in its debut weekend.