Adam Sandler’s monster mash-up ‘‘Hotel Transylvania’’ has brought the weekend box office back to life after a late-summer slump. The animated comedy from Sony Pictures debuted at No. 1 with $43 million, one of the strongest starts ever for a movie opening in September, according to studio estimates Sunday. ‘‘Hotel Transylvania’’ set a new high for September debuts in terms of actual dollars, beating the previous record of $35.7 million for 2002’s ‘‘Sweet Home Alabama.’’ But factoring in today’s higher admission prices, ‘‘Sweet Home Alabama’’ sold more tickets. This weekend’s box office was further strengthened by a solid No. 2 debut for another Sony release, Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s time-travel thriller ‘‘Looper,’’ which took in $21.2 million.

Bridal best

“She’s like my daughter.” - Valentino Garavani, talking to E! about actress Anne Hathaway, who got married in one of his designs over the weekend.