LOS ANGELES — Halloween came early at movie theaters as "Saw III" sliced up the competition with a $34.3 million debut, the best opening yet for the gory horror franchise.

Lionsgate's "Saw III" easily took over as No. 1 at the box office, bumping off Disney's dueling-magicians saga "The Prestige," which slipped to third place with $9.6 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. "The Prestige" raised its 10-day total to $28.8 million.

Martin Scorsese's mob tale "The Departed" held strongly again, taking in $9.8 million to place second for the third-straight weekend.

1. "Saw III," $34.3 million.

2. "The Departed," $9.8 million.

3. "The Prestige," $9.6 million.

4. "Flags of Our Fathers," $6.35 million.

5. "Open Season," $6.1 million.

6. "Flicka," $5 million.