Arguably it could have been anticipated that a Ben Affleck and Game Of Thrones Star movie would produce a wide audience of movie goers, but no critic could have anticipated the turn out for “Gone Girl,” a thriller about Affleck’s murdered wife.

It seems as tho thrillers were the biggest hit at the box office in their respected premiers this weekend as “Annabelle” another thriller by Warner Brothers & New Lines “The Conjuring” series.

Entertainment reports Gone Girl, David Fincher’s critically adored adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s bestselling novel grossed an estimated $38 million hitting 3,014 screens for Fox, marking a career high for Fincher’s career. Warner Brothers & New Line’s “Annabelle” a spinoff of last year’s horror hit The Conjuring, took in an impressive $37.2 million from 3,185 screens.

Although their success at the box office seems indicative that they are good choices for movie goers both thrillers received an under achieving B CinemaScore, suggesting to viewers that the movie did not meet expectations as R rated movies.

Annabelle, had only cost $6.5 million to produce, so luckily the film has already proven its worth before an inevitable, grossing drop-off next weekend. The Affleck thriller will still have some work to do to make up its $61 million budget, but it shouldn’t have much trouble accomplishing breaking even considering the critical anticipation and generally feverish fans around any Affleck and Game Of Thrones character containing movie.

“There’s so many superlatives to say about this movie,” reported Fox’s distribution chief Chris Aronson to the Entertainment magazine. “It’s such a thought-provoking and thoughtful film that’s just hit on all cylinders. It’s become a zeitgeisty film, if you will. Audiences have sought this movie out and want to be part of the conversation.” He continues: “This was a very tricky film to market, with the reveals, the twists and turns. It’s a very thin line to walk because you don’t want to give it away. I really have to tip my hat to the Fox team and everyone who made it the cultural event that it’s turning out to be.”