Jessica Chastain rules the box office this weekend

Jessica Chastain overpowered Mark Wahlberg, Arnold Schwarzenegger and others this weekend as her low-budget horror flick "Mama" emerged as weekend box office champ, with her Oscar-nominated drama "Zero Dark Thirty" capturing the second spot.

Chastain's supernatural thriller pulled in $28.1 million from Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to studio estimates, beating out a crop of new testosterone-fueled, male-targeted releases.

"Zero Dark Thirty," for which Chastain is a leading best actress Oscar contender, took in $17.6 million. Another Oscar favorite, "Silver Linings Playbook," finished third with $11.35 million.