Hurricane Irene Dampens U.S. Box Office

files/pictures/picture-35.jpgWith Hurricane Irene moving in over the weekend of Aug. 26-28, 2011, the U.S. box office results were dampened. Disney's THE HELP remained at the top of the box office, earning another $14.3 million. The hit civil rights-themed drama has earned $96.6 million to date.

TriStar's COLOMBIANA gunned into second in its debut. The hitwoman actioner made $10.3 million. Special FX International and Wolf Stuntworks provided vfx work.

FilmDistrict's DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK scared up only $8.69 million in third. The horror flick received vfx from Iloura and Spectral Motion.

Fox's RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES swung into fourth, making another $8.65 million. With vfx from Weta Digital, Halon Ent. and Pixel Liberation Front, the franchise hit brought in $148.5 million.

The Weinstein Co.'s OUR IDIOT BROTHER placed fifth with $6.59 million.

Dimension's SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD kicked into sixth with $5.73 million. With effects from Hybride, Speedshape and Troublemaker Studios, the family actioner has a cume of $21.7 million.

Sony's THE SMURFS la la-ed into seventh, raising an additional $4.8 million. With vfx from Sony Pictures Imageworks (SPI), Framestore, Lola Visual Effects, Tippett Studio, Drac Studios, Illusion Industries, The Base Studio and The Third Floor, the family hit has a cume of $126 million.

Lionsgate's CONAN THE BARBARIAN axed off $3.1 million in eighth. With vfx from Dr. PICTURE Studios, Legend3D, Arcadia SFX, BOT VFX, Crazy Horse Effects, Plowman Craven & Associates, Proof, Rocket Science 3D, The Third Floor and Worldwide FX, the reboot has earned only $16.6 million to date.

Disney's FRIGHT NIGHT bites off another $3.03 million. With vfx from Digital Domain, Eden FX, Entity FX, Hirota Paint Industries (HPI), Shade VFX and The Third Floor, the remake has earned $14.2 million.

Warner Bros.' CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE. finished off the top ten for a second weekend, raising another $2.91 million. The romcom has a cume of $69.5 million.

Box office numbers were obtained on boxofficemojo.com.