Hurricane Irene, which made landfall on the Outer Banks of North Carolina last night is having tremendous effect on the east coast, with around 20-25% of movie theaters closing for the weekend, ranging from the coasts of North Carolina to Massachusetts.
Most of the movies dropped hard, but The Help remained at #1 with $4.2 million, a 27% drop from last Friday. Look for the weekend total to be around $13 million.
The three new releases are performing as expected. Colombiana starring Zoe Saldana had the best start though, earning $4 million and looking for an $11.5 million weekend. Don't Be Afraid of the Dark followed with $3.4 million, and might reach the $10 million mark for its' debut, while Our Idiot Brother bottomed out with $2.3 million, and looks to reach my predicted $6 million for the weekend.
The only holdover to do decent business was Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which dropped to fourth place and eased 47% to $2.5 million, and will reach my predicted $8.5 million for its' fourth weekend.
Meanwhile, the family flicks Spy Kids: All The Time In The World and The Smurfs collapsed 59% and 49% to $1.6 million and $1.2 million, for $5.5 million and $4.5 million weekends. Look for both films to make up majority of those drops over the 4-Day Labor Day Weekend next weekend.
Here Is The Projected Top 10 (Updated):
#1: The Help ($13.2 million, -34%)
#2: Colombiana ($11.2 million)
#3: Don't Be Afraid of the Dark ($9.8 million)
#4: Rise of the Planet of the Apes ($8.3 million, -47%)
#5: Our Idiot Brother ($6.2 million)
#6: Spy Kids: All The Time In The World ($5.4 million, -54%)
#7: The Smurfs ($4.1 million, -48%)
#8: Crazy, Stupid, Love. ($3.1 million, -35%)
#9: Conan The Barbarian ($3 million, -70%)
#10: Fright Night ($2.8 million, -74%)
Again, these totals might jump up or hold well after Irene passes and the 4-Day Labor Day Weekend
comes next weekend...
