Lee Daniel’s The Butler held on to top spot at a lacklustre box office weekend that marked the penultimate session of blockbuster season.

Overall business climbed approximately 11% against the same session in 2012.

An estimated $17m haul through TWC following an effective 31% drop in the second weekend propelled the Civil Rights drama to $52.3m.

Warner Bros’ comedy We’re The Millers held well at number two in its second weekend after an impressive 25% drop on $13.5m for $91.7m.

The weekend’s three new releases delivered modest results. Screen Gems opened The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones in third place on $9.3m over three days rising to $14.1m since Wednesday’s launch.

Focus Features reported an $8.9m debut at number four for the Edgar Wright comedy The World’s End. This marks the final entry in the Cornetto Trilogy that started with Shaun Of The Dead and sandwiched Hot Fuzz. Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Martin Freeman, Paddy Considine, Rosamund Pike and Eddie Marsan star.

Horror title You’re Next was a crowd favourite when it premiered in Midnight Madness in Toronto back in 2011 and Lionsgate unleashed the horror at number seven on $7.1m.

The march of Blue Jasmine continues unabated as SPC’s Woody Allen hit climbed five places to number nine and added $4.3m for $14.8m after five weekends.

Jobs tumbled five places to number 12 in its second weekend through Open Road, adding $3m for $12.1m. 2 Guns ranks 11th through Universal on $65.4m after four weekends.

In limited release TWC launched Wong kar-wai’s The Grandmaster in seven venues for $132,300 for an excellent $18,900 average. TWC will expand the kung fu tale next weekend.

Cinedigm released the SXSW narrative feature competition grand jury prize winner Short Term 12 on $61,000 from four sites for a terrific $15,025 average. IFC’s Una Noche opened on $18,500 from three.

Next weekend is Labor Day holiday weekend and the wide releases are: Warner Bros’ thriller Getaway with Ethan Hawke and Selena Gomez; TriStar’s concert film One Direction: This Is Us; and Focus Features’ thriller Closed Circuit starring Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall.

Estimated Top 10 North America Aug 23-25 2013
Film (Dist) / Est wkd gross / Est total to date


1 (1) Lee Daniel’s The Butler (TWC) WTC Int’l $17m $52.3m

2 (2) We’re The Millers (Warner Bros) WBPI $13.5m $91.7m

3 (-) The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones (Screen Gems) Mister Smith $9.3m $14.1m

4 (-) The World’s End (Focus Features) UPI $8.9m –

5 (4) Planes (Buena Vista) WDSMPI $8.6m $59.6m

6 (3) Elysium (Sony TriStar-MRC) SPRI $7.1m $69.1m

7 (-) You’re Next (Lionsgate) HanWay $7.05m –

8 (6) Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters (Fox) Fox Int’l $5.2m $48.3m

9 (14) Blue Jasmine (SPC) FFI $4.3m $14.8m

10 (5) Kick-Ass 2 (Universal) UPI $4.3m $22.4m