Variety reports the top movies, in terms of box office take, for the week of 31 August-6 September 2012. Horror flick The Possession opened at the top of the charts, collecting $23.8 million. Last week’s late opener Lawless climbed from #16 to #2 in its first full week in release. ParaNorman fell from #3 to #5, spooking up $9.8 million, for a three-week total of $41.3 million. The Odd Life of Timothy Green slipped from #6 to #7, growing $9.5 million (nearly as much as last week), for a three-week total of $39.4 million. The Dark Knight Rises fell from #5 to #8, raising $9.3 million, for a seven-week total of $434.6 million.

The Avengers, which fell out of the top 25 three weeks ago, this week rebounded up the charts, landing at #13, teaming up $2.8 million, for an eighteen-week total of $620.6 million. Brave climbed from #19 to #15, earning $2.3 million (nearly three times what it earned last week), for an eleven-week total of $232.7 million. Ice Age: Continental Drift fell from #14 to #17, melting $2.0 million, for an eight-week total of $156.3 million. The Amazing Spider-Man climbed from #20 to #18, spinning up $1.4 million (twice what it made last week), for a nine-week total of $260.0 million. Total Recall fell from #15 to #19, recalling $1.3 million, for a five-week total of $57.2 million. Ted fell from #17 to #20, bearing up $1.1 million, for a ten-week total of $216.3 million. Robot & Frank, a small film with a big-name cast, opened a couple of weeks ago, but only this week managed to pop up into public notice, climbing to #22 on the charts, and stealing away $1.0 million, for a three-week total of $1.5 million. Madagascar 3 fell from #18 to #23, making $950 thousand (15% more than last week), for a thirteen-week total of $214.9 million. The Apparition fell from #12 to #24, haunting up $950 thousand, for a two-week total of $4.6 million.