Paramount's innovative release plan for Paranormal Activity: Ghost Dimension may result in the sixth installment seeing the lowest nationwide start of any film in the franchise. Conversely, it could make up the difference when becoming available in the home earlier than normal.

Many theater circuits are refusing to carry the movie, saying the early VOD release threatens the traditional theatrical window. That means Ghost Dimension will only go out in roughly 1,400 North American locations when opening Oct. 23 — compared to 2,883 for the last title and well north of 3,000 theaters for each of the previous three films. Ghost Dimension is pacing to open to $10 million-$12 million domestically, compared to $18.3 million for last year's Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones.

But that doesn't mean for lack of interest; according to those with access to prerelease tracking, it has better scores than Marked Ones. (In other words, theaters not carrying Ghost Dimenison could find themselves having to explain to customers why they're not).