The latest instalment of the horror movie franchise directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman joins the other highly successful Paranormal films, which have made over $576 million worldwide to date.
Ben Affleck's Argo held on to the number two spot with $16.6m, while Hotel Transylvania and Taken 2 took third and fourth place with $13.4m and $13.5 respectively.
Less successful was Tyler Perry's debut as an action hero in Alex Cross.
The movie, which cost approximately $35m to make, premiered at number five with $11.7m, underperforming according to initial studio estimates.
A second Alex Cross movie, however, is reportedly in the works.
Sinister, Here Comes the Boom, Pitch Perfect, Frankenweenie and Looper round out the top ten.
The top ten in full (studio estimates):
1. (-) Paranormal Activity 4 - $30,200,000
2. (2) Argo - $6,625,000
3. (4) Hotel Transylvania - $13,500,000
4. (1) Taken 2 - $13,400,000
5. (-) Alex Cross - $11,750,000
6. (3) Sinister - $9,030,000
7. (5) Here Comes the Boom - $8,500,000
8. (6) Pitch Perfect - $7,009,000
9. (7) Frankenweenie - $4,434,000
10. (8) Looper - $4,200,000
Watch an exclusive clip for Paranormal Activity 4 below:
