LOS ANGELES — Moviegoers had an appetite for fright this weekend, sending “Insidious: Chapter 2” to the top of the box office.

The haunted-house horror sequel debuted in first place with $41 million, more than tripling the opening take of the 2010 original.

Debuting on Friday the 13th, FilmDistrict’s “Insidious: Chapter 2” scored the highest September opening day ever, said box-office analyst Paul Dergarabedian of Hollywood.com.

“It was a perfect release date for this movie,” he said. “James Wan has cracked the code on making great horror movies.”

1. “Insidious: Chapter 2,” $41 million ($5 million international).

2. “The Family,” $14.5 million.

3. “Riddick,” $7 million ($9.6 million international).

4. “Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” $5.58 million ($2.5 million international).

5. “We’re the Millers,” $5.4 million ($9 million international).

6. “Instructions Not Included,” $4.25 million.

7. “Planes,” $3.06 million ($10.7 million international).

8. “One Direction: This Is Us,” $2.4 million.

9. “Elysium,” $2.05 million ($8.5 million international).

10. “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters,” $1.82 million ($7.8 million international).