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.

ELI ROTH'S THE LAST EXORCISM POSSESSES THE BOX OFFICE... OR NOT!

Eli Roth at MuchMusic (2009)

Eli Roth indeed is the new King of Horror as his latest film The Last Exorcism possesses Moviegoers this weekend, earning $20.4 million from 2,874 theatres. The film has also opened to strong reviews, earning a 70% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Takers which also opened this weekend debuted in second with $21 million and in all likelihood would have been at the top but had showed at only 2,206 theatres.  The action film with its cast of Bad Boys galore, stars vetern actor Matt Dillion and rapper T.I. who was jailed for possession of weapons and released this Spring. The film also stars Chris Brown who has had his share of headlines, of course not all positive. Is it premature to say that the public has forgiven him somewhat?

Two-week champion The Expendables slipped to third with $9.5 million, although still performing well. The same applies to Eat Pray Love which made $6.9 million this weekend, good enough for fourth spot in its third week also. Never under-estimate the staying power of Julia Roberts.  The Other Guys also, is a model of consistency, dropping to fifth spot in its fourth week of release, with $6.5 million putting it just shy of the $100 million mark in earnings.

The Top Ten is rounded out by parody Vampires Suck in sixth with $5.4 million, Inception in seventh with $5 million in seven weeks; Piranha 3D is on its way out in its second week with only $4.5 million in tenth.

EDIT: Updated numbers have just been released.  Takers actually just narrowly edged-out The Last Exorcism - the former pulling in $20.5 million, while the latter earned $20.4 million, reversing the previously reported Top Two positions. Nailbiter!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)