'Conjuring' raises $41.5M in box-office debut

Moviegoers were ready for a fright this weekend, sending "The Conjuring" into first place at the box office, The Associated Press reports.

The Warner Bros. haunted-house horror -- based on a true story -- debuted with $41.5 million in North American ticket sales, according to studio estimates yesterday.

Starring Vera Farmiga, Lili Taylor, Patrick Wilson and Ron Livingston, "The Conjuring" unseated three-week box-office champ, "Despicable Me 2," which dropped to second place with $25 million.

"The Conjuring" was among four new releases tempting moviegoers this weekend. The newest animated offering, Fox's "Turbo," opened with $21.5 million, good for third place.