As what many were expecting, Lee Daniels' The Butler remained on top for a second-straight weekend, and held terrifically. The historical drama fell 33% to $16.5 million, for a strong 10-day gross of $51.8 million. This marks only the seventh movie this year to top the box office for two weeks in a row, after Identity Thief, Oz The Great and Powerful, Iron Man 3, Fast and Furious 6, Monsters University and Despicable Me 2. The film is tracking about $5 million behind The Help through the same point, and should it continue to post strong holds, The Butler could very well find its' way above the $100 million mark. It may not hold the top spot again next weekend, as One Direction: This is Us is looking to take the top spot. Don't be surprised if this remains in the Top 10 through the beginning of October.Also posting a terrific hold, We're The Millers is also benefiting from strong word-of-mouth, off just 27% to $13 million. The latest R-rated comedy hit has posted $91.3 million in 19 days and is looking for a finish in the $130 million range, with even an outside shot of hitting $150 million if legs continue to be like Bridesmaids and The Heat.
The top new release was the latest YA adaptation, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, which flopped despite opening in third place. The Howard Zwart production couldn't save Sony from a summer they'd wish to forget, as it earned just $9.3 million over the three-day stretch, for a per-venue average of a stale $2,995. Since its' Wednesday debut, the fantasy thriller has turned in $14.1 million. Its' a bit confusing why this didn't break out, as based on early buzz from the beginning of the season, it seemed like this was poised for success. However, in the end, it appears fan inflation got to it. Altogether, Instruments posted slightly better results than the four-day start of Beautiful Creatures ($11 million) and its' three-day weekend was just shy of that of The Host ($10.6 million). In the end, with a solid "B+" CinemaScore and the Labor Day holiday coming up, Mortal Instruments should finish ahead of those two titles, but it probably won't do well enough to justify the sequel that's about to start production. Distributor Sony (who released it through Screen Gems) released no official projection, but the budget was $60 million.Surprisingly finishing close behind in fourth was British R-rated comedy The World's End, which opened in line with expectations with a strong $8.8 million, strong for a movie that released in just over 1,500 locations. Due to that, the decent per-venue average of $5,667 was a Top 10-best. Considering it only opened in 1,551 locations, the opening was actually quite good. Distributor Focus Features had produced this for only $20 million, and the Simon Pegg-Nick Frost comedy has already earned $15 million overseas, so this is already on its' way to profitability. Critics enjoyed this latest film, and audiences gave it a "B+" CinemaScore, which could mean a solid multiple by the time its' done.
Disney's Planes continued to hold well with no competition, off 36% to $8.6 million, for a 17-day total of a strong $59.6 million. The animated flick has already passed its' budget, and is set to probably earn at least the same amount as this weekend over the extended Labor Day frame.
The final new release, horror flick You're Next, debuted to less than expected in seventh place.
Despite solid critical reception and buzz, the film debuted to just $7 million, for a per-venue average of a weak $2,881. Considering the buzz, many were thinking the Lionsgate flick was going to have a chance at claiming first place, but it appears many horror fans had already had their fill after The Conjuring and The Purge. Altogether, You're Next posted one of the weakest debuts for a horror movie in recent memory. The CinemaScore was a "B-", which was a bit better than average for the genre, but doesn't bode well for the road ahead. Thankfully, the budget was only around $3 million (according to various reports), which means it may already be in the black.
Falling behind its' opening weekend competition, Elysium fell 49% to $6.9 million, for a so-so $68.9 million 17-day gross. Look for Matt Damon's sci-fi spectacle to close with a disappointing $80 million, but it should make up the difference overseas with over $70 million so far. Despite competition from The Mortal Instruments, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters held well, off 40% to $5.3 million, for a 19-day gross of an OK $48.4 million, and is set to earn a solid amount over Labor Day Weekend. Kick-*** 2 continued to show signs of severe front-loading, as the action sequel fell a troubling 67% to $4.4 million, for a disappointing $22.5 million 10-day gross, and will be lucky to hit $30 million by the time its' done.
Woody Allen's latest, Blue Jasmine expanded to nearly 1,300 locations and reached 10th place for the frame with a respectable $4 million. While that's not as much as what Oscar nominee Midnight in Paris earned in its' nationwide expansion, its' still a good start for an arthouse release, and it will likely play well through the Fall season with expected nominations in next year's awards season.
In milestone news, Jurassic Park became the 17th movie ever to pass $1 billion.
Speaking of Jurassic Park, its' 3D re-release topped the international circuit and opened to a strong $28.8 million in its' first six days in China, pushing the films' lifetime gross above $1 billion. Elysium added $20 million in second place for a $140 million worldwide tally so far, on its' way to a finish around $250 million. Monsters University also debuted in China to strong numbers, and added $19.6 million, passing $400 million overseas in the process. The worldwide tally is now set to easily exceed $700 million, and may even approach $750 million. Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters added $18.2 million from 44 markets, but only opened in Russia to solid numbers. So far, the sequel is at $110 million worldwide. The Conjuring rounded out the Top 5 with $17.7 million, including strong openings in a few major territories. With nearly $90 million overseas, it has earned $220 million worldwide and could pass $300 million...
