Image Credit: Dale Robinette
Amidst a sea of box office underperformers (Conan the Barbarian, Glee: The 3D Concert Movie, Spy Kids 4D, Fright Night, Our Idiot Brother, Colombiana) two well-reviewed August releases notched major box office milestones yesterday.
The Help passed the $100 million mark on its 21st day of release. After a sturdy $26 million opening weekend, the Kathryn Stockett adaptation, which earned an impressive “A+” CinemaScore grade, has seen subsequent weekend drops of just 23 and 27 percent, and it’s currently pulling in about $2 million per weekday. With continued strong word-of-mouth, look for The Help to finish in the $140 million range, far ahead of similar female-targeting literary adaptations like Eat Pray Love ($80.6 million) and Julie and Julia ($94.1 million).
Rise of the Planet of the Apes, meanwhile, swung past $150 million on its 26th day in theaters. The surprise smash prequel, which opened to a robust $54.8 million, has enjoyed small drops during its four weeks in theaters, and it will finish well ahead of other more heavily promoted sci-fi tentpoles like X-Men: First Class (which has currently earned $146.1 million), Green Lantern ($116 million), and Cowboys and Aliens ($94 million).
August is traditionally viewed as a dead zone at the box office, where studios’ toughest sells go to fail quietly, but the success of The Help and Rise of the Planet of the Apes suggests that audiences will see quality movies at any time of the year.
Follow Grady on Twitter: @BoxOfficeJunkie
So, when can we look forward to the announcement of “The Help 2″?
im not suprised about the millions of dollars the help made. The only time white devils go to the movies to see black folks in a movie is when it has to do what the god awful history in this cracker ass country. Because they have low self esteem and nothing is fair they love to see black folks under the bottom of their shoe.
The Help deserves it! So does Rise.
Mid-week bonus: America loves crap.
lol…i know you just like to get comments…..but would you get a life already….I am gay as well….but I do not need that much kuddos……GROW UP you WAD….Remember i am one to!
The talk about x-men like it made nothing and I would say it was FAR from heavily promoted …..
Colombiana didn’t underperform.
comicbook movies are for dopes
Colombiana was excellent, it got sunk by the storm. The action was terrific.
Best thing about Colombiana was that little named Amandla Stenberg. She was glorious and stole the show to me. I’m excited to see her as Rue in The Hunger Games. She has a future on her hands
Grady,
Your comment on August is a bit simplistic. Here’s a list of other August films that were big hits:
THE OTHER GUYS
GI. JOE
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
DISTRICT 9
TROPIC THUNDER
PINEAPPLE EXPRESS
THE EXPENDIBLES
THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN
SUPERBAD
Need I go on?
August has always been historically been a weak month for releases; not nearly as weak as January and February, but still. It’s usually a dumping ground for middling comedies or the bombastic action flicks that cross over from summer blockbuster to sheer ridiculousness. It’s that awkward time between playing during the heart of summer and swinging into the beginning of awards season. Sure, there are ALWAYS exceptions to the rule, but the performance of ‘The Help’ has been pretty damn remarkable.
Was X Men: First Class THAT heavily promoted? I don’t recall that it was. Either way, it was a great movie.
There have always been a couple movies every year in August that do well at the box office. Don’t know why you make it seem like this is a first.
Apes was agood movie I enjoy it made u think too
midweek pathetic comment by the boring and desperate LOL
Haha wonderful!
Based on recent activity in the world it’s become very obvious to me that, human brains and specially George’s, will cease to function in about 5 years.
Are You DROPPED on the HEAD as a CHILD? Which STUNTED your GROWTH?
You 59 cent douche bag…
My company makes them.
LOVED “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”. Brilliantly done sci-fi that was, at once, a reboot, a remake, and a recharge of the franchise. Oscar worthy performance from John Lithgow, and the direction is great. See it.
I did, it was very good thanks
Fright night was better tho…