LOS ANGELES — A real scary movie bumped off the spoof variety at the box office.

Sony's fright flick "Silent Hill," set in an eerie ghost town, debuted with $20.2 million. It took over the top spot from the Weinstein Co. comedy "Scary Movie 4," which slipped to No. 2 with $17 million in its second weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The White House assassination tale "The Sentinel," a 20th Century Fox thriller starring Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland and Eva Longoria, opened in third place with $14.65 million. The weekend's other new major debut, Universal's George W. Bush-"American Idol" parody "American Dreamz" featuring Dennis Quaid and Hugh Grant, debuted a weak No. 8 with $3.7 million.

1. "Silent Hill," $20.2 million.

2. "Scary Movie 4," $17 million.

3. "The Sentinel," $14.65 million.

4. "Ice Age: The Meltdown," $12.8 million.

5. "The Wild," $8.05 million.

6. "The Benchwarmers," $7.3 million.

7. "Take the Lead," $4.25 million.

8 (tie). "American Dreamz," $3.7 million; "Inside Man," $3.7 million.