Variety reports the top movies, in terms of box office take, for the week of 23-29 September 2011. The 3-D (and 2-D) re-release of Disney’s 17-year-old The Lion King held onto the top spot for a second week, topping four new releases, roaring up $29.0 million, for a two-week total of $68.6 million. The four new releases this week were Moneyball, Dolphin Tale, Abduction, and Killer Elite. Contagion slipped from #2 to #6, sneezing up $11.1 million, for a three-week total of $59.7 million.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes slipped from #9 to #13, turning over $1.5 million, for an eight-week total of $173.9 million. Spy Kids: All the Time in the World slipped from #14 to #17, seeking out $900 thousand, for a six-week total of $37.2 million. The Smurfs slipped from #17 to #18, smurfing up $650 thousand, for a nine-week total of $138.5 million.Shark Night 3D fell from #11 to #19, gobbling up $600 thousand, for a four-week total of $18.4 million. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II slipped from #19 to #22, conjuring up $550 thousand, for an eleven-week total of $379.0 million. Transformers: Dark of the Moon, held steady at #23, transforming $500 thousand, for a thirteen-week total of $352.0 million. Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark fell from #16 to #24, claiming $500 thousand, for a five-week total of $23.6 million. Captain America: The First Avenger fell from #20 to #25, commanding $400 thousand, for a ten-week total of $174.9 million.
Falling out of the top 25 this week were:
Apollo 18 (last week’s #18) in its fourth week in release (box office total: $17.4 million)
Cowboys & Aliens (last week’s #22) in its ninth week in release (box office total: $99.4 million)