Opening day numbers and beyond for The Help

The Help dropped to number 2 behind Contagion on Friday, Sept 9th. While The Help took in over 2 and a half million on Friday, Contagion took in a little over 8 million and looks to land in the top spot for the weekend.

 

The Help did have the second longest run in the #1 spot (25 days, behind the Sixth Sense which held the #1 spot for 35 days)

 

I get most of my intel on movie gross from boxofficemojo.com. Here’s how the site explains how staying at number 1 is a combination of  several factors:

 

 ”While all of these movies were extremely successful, streaks like this are more connected to the time of year and competition than the performance of the movie in question. For example, if it hadn’t been for strong opening days from Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, Sherlock Holmes and The Book of Eli, Avatar would have held on to the top spot for 49 straight days.

 

In The Help‘s case, it can thank anemic performances from late summer releases like Spy Kids: All the Time in the World, Conan the Barbarian, Fright Night, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, Apollo 18 and Shark Night 3D.The Help has tallied $128.4 million in 30 days. It led its first two days before yielding to Rise of the Planet of the Apes each day of the Aug. 12-14 weekend. Its current streak began on Monday, Aug. 15, and continued through Thursday, Sept. 8. . .”

 

Link: http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3265&p=.htm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Help, as of September 1st has grossed $102, 605. 854 per box office mojo. Truly Gross.

 

 

The Help made $4,404,000 (estimated gross) per boxofficemojo.com, bringing its total gross to $86,701,000

 

But what’s interesting this weekend is Columbiana, a film starring Zoe Saldana, a Dominican American actress in the starring role.

 

If the actuals hold up to the estimate, her film is narrowly holding off Katie Holmes’ Don’t Be Afraid of The Dark, the remake of a 70s made for TV horror movie. DBATD is also writer and director  Guillermo del Toro’s production.

 

 

The Help made  $2,640,369 Thursday per boxofficemojo.com, bringing the total gross to $82,297, 305

 

 

 

The Help made $2,636,642 Wednesday per boxofficemojo.com, bringing the total gross to$79,656,936

 

 

The Help made $3,073,232 Tuesday per boxofficemojo.com, bringing the total gross to$77,020,294 

 

The Help made $2,606,233 Monday as per boxofficemojo.com 

 

 

Boxofficemojo estimates The Help wins the weekend box-office (August 19th-21st) with a total take of  $20,479,000 which brings their estimated gross to $71, 801,000   actual gross for the weekend came in  at $71, 340. 829 per box office mojo.

 

 

Estimated gross for Friday’s box-office is $5,804,000, per boxofficemojo.com

 

That brings the total haul for The Help to $57, 126,000 so far.

 

 

 

The Help took in $3,569,477 on Thursday, bringing its total to $51,322,170 per http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/

 

 

This weekend the film is coming up against the remake of Frightnight, a Conan the Barbarian reboot that’s in 3D, and the fourth installment of Spy Kids. All in all, it looks as if the top spot at the box office is up for grabs.

 

 

 

The Help took in $3,564,041 on Wednesday, for a 7 day total of  $47, 752.693 per box office mojo.com

 

It took in over $4,378,810 on Tuesday.

 

The Help reportedly made over $3,891,426 on Monday. Actual figures for The Help are in, and it looks like the movie will still remain in second place behind a bunch of CG apes. Weekend take for the film was $26,044.590

Shrieks and squeals from Skeeters pals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Which is more than the estimate listed previously.

Link: http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/

Box office mojo is listing the budget for the film at 25 million, but have to find the article that stated it was actually $30 mil. In any event, the film made back what it cost.

But then, the movie’s not just after big bucks. Those behind the film want the validation only awards can offer, especially since the critical reaction is mixed and the studio now realizes they’ve lost out on the Tyler Perry bucks, which added to the “I just love Skeeter! And I feel so bad for what those poor black people” loyal readers of the novel would have made for a bigger profit.

 

Does the movie have legs? And will it have repeat viewers? Who knows, stay tuned

 

 

 

 

Weekend projections for The Help, as it takes the #2 spot behind Planet of the Apes (yes, this is ironic, but all I’ll say is I recall my parents talking of the “jokes” about blacks and apes).

From Boxofficemojo:

$25,525,000

$35,399,000 five day total

“The Help picked up an estimated $25.5 million on approximately 3,100 screens at 2,534 locations, exceeding the debuts of the major female-driven book adaptations of the last two Augusts, Julie & Julia ($20 million) and Eat Pray Love ($23.1 million). Help has shown even greater initial popularity, since it opened on Wednesday, unlike those two movies, and has tallied $35.4 million in five days.”

Link: http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3248&p=.htm

 

Friday’s estimate from boxofficemojo:

$7,626,000 which brings the three day total to over 17 million 

Link: http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/

 

The Help’s gross on Thursday was solid, if lower than Wednesday’s take

” Update: On Thursday, it was a photo finish between The Help and Rise of the Planet of the Apes for the top spot. Help made an estimated $4.333 million, while Apes drew $4.329 million.

Tallying $9.8 million in two days, Help‘s Wednesday-to-Thursday drop was 21 percent, holding better than past August female-driven Wednesday openers The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (44 percent) and The Princess Diaries 2 (33 percent) at the same point, but worse than Freaky Friday (19 percent).”

 

Figures by Brandon Gray of Boxofficemojo:

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3246&p=.htm

WEDNESDAY, OPENING DAY

Solid opening on Wednesday, as reported by Box Office Mojo. The movie was reportedly budgeted at around 30 million (Saw that figure in an article, once I find it I’ll post it)

The Help’ Bags Solid $5.5M on Wednesday by Brandon Gray

On Wednesday, The Help debuted to an estimated $5.5 million on approximately 3,100 screens at 2,511 locations, claiming first place for the day over Rise of the Planet of the Apes‘ $4.9 million.

It’s not unprecedented for a female-driven drama to make a splash in August, especially one based on a popular book. Julie & Julia and Eat Pray Love saw opening weekends of $20.1 million and $23.1 million, respectively, though they had traditional Friday launches. The Help‘s marketing campaign has been in full swing for weeks, promoting the movie as a feel-good ensemble comedy-drama, but the book’s branding has been the star.

Read the full article here:

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3246&p=.htm

Stay tuned for more updates on the boxoffice take . . .