I guess not screening ‘Prom Night’ for the critics worked out pretty good for Sony Pictures. Even beating the high expectations of $22 million, the horror ‘Prom Night’ made an estimated $22.7 million in its first weekend.

In second, came ‘Street Kings’ with Keanu Reeves and Forest Whitaker, making a decent $12 million. While Miramax’s ‘Smart People‘ made the 7th place with $4.2 million, higher than the expected $3 million.

While ‘Leatherheads’ didn’t have a great start last week due to poor reviews, ‘Prom Night’ is expected to become this weekend’s number 1 without help of the critics. Sony Pictures’ horror is expected to do between $18 and $22 million this weekend, covering its production costs within the first couple of days.

Without big supporting actors, places like MTV were used to promote the teen movie. TRL hold a ‘Prom Week’, while several radio stations held a ‘Pimp Your Prom’ contest. Sending out celebrity DJs to schools to play some tunes. And like similar horrors the company produced, Sony is again using a slow weekend for less competition.