GEORGE CLOONEY'S THE AMERICAN - A "LABOUR" DAY OF LOVE AT BOX OFFICE

The American

George Clooney's The American from Focus Features opened at the top of the Box Office in its first week of release, with an tepid estimate of $16.5 million from 2,823 theatres.    These numbers are based on a four-day Labour Day weekend according to Deadline; final tally will be released Tuesday.  Yet again, it is a neck-in-neck finish for a second week in a row with Takers edging out The Last Exorcism last week only by a hair.  The reviews for the Clooney film have been passably positive for the film 61% at Rotten Tomatoes) which opened oddly on a Wednesday.

Robert Rodriguez's Machete starring Jessica Alba is projected to bring in $14.7 million over four days, which is uncharacteristically low. The reviews however, have been positive for the Fox film with Rotten Tomatoes rating it a consensus of 71%.

Last weekend's champion Takers slips to third this weekend with $14.5 million, just ahead of The Last Exorcism again; the latter brought in $10 million earning $34.8 million to date.  Warner Bros.' Going the Distance starring Drew Barrymore and Justin Long brought in $8.5 million from 3,030 theatres - clearly a flop.

The Expendables nears the $100 million mark with $8.2 million earned this weekend in its fourth week of release. Miraculously, Inception is still in the Top Ten in what will likely be its last week there, bringing in $6 million this weekend.