"HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2" IS 2011'S HIGHEST-GROSSING FILM

Still from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

It is absolutely no surprise that 2011 tallies show that Franchise Finale Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, is internationally the year's highest-grossing Film.  The Warner Bros. Fantasy Drama earned a whopping $1.328 billion worldwide, over $200 million more than its closest competition, Transformers: Dark of the Moon. This past Summer I was lucky enough to be a part of the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Canadian Press Tour.  Click here to read my Interview with burgeoning Star, Matthew Lewis.

Note that eight out of ten of these Films actually are sequels with Warner Bros., Buena Vista/Disney and Paramount Pictures each accounting for two each. Based on Rotten Tomatoes ratings for the Top Ten, it would appear there is a bit of a divide between Critical and Commercial tastes with these ten averaging 56.3% among Critics, below the "Certified Fresh" threshold.

Without further ado, here are your Top Ten Grossing Films of 2011:

JESSICA CHASTAIN RULES THE BOX OFFICE

Jessica Chastain

If there was ever any doubt about Jessica Chastain's Star Power, I'll have you know that she stars in both the number one and number two Films at the Box Office this weekend. The Help for the second week in a row, lands atop the Box Office in its third week of release, with $18 million projected for this four-day Labour Day weekend. The Debt which has her starring alongside Helen Mirren and Sam Worthington, exceeds expectations in second spot with $12 million, in second spot.  Just one more week til she's here for TIFF 2011!

Apollo 18, despite some negative reviews, lands in third spot in its debut with $11 million, just ahead of another panned Opener, Shark Night 3-D, in fourth.  Both garnered 24% on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes.

Columbiana is in fifth spot with $10 million for Sony Pictures, just ahead of Don't Be Afraid of the Dark with $6 million; both in their second week of release. Surprisingly, The Smurfs 3-D remains resilient in rounding out the Top Ten, hanging on for a sixth week also for Sony Pictures, with $5 million.

"THE HELP" RISES TO THE TOP

Still from The Help

The great news for Disney this weekend is that they wound up on top of the Box Office with The Help which in its second week, climbs to number one with $20 million. The bad news is that their Remake Fright Night starring Colin Farrell and Alex Pettyfer, under-performs in its debut in fifth spot, with $8.3 million despite great reviews. Coincidentally, both Films have garnered 74% on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer.

Finishing second is two-week champion, The Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which brings in $16.3 million this weekend, with a three-week total of $133.4 million in North America. Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4-D (Aroma-scope) debuts in third with $12 million for the successful franchise. The three previous installments of Spy Kids combined have grossed $161.7 million total.

Conan the Barbarian debuts in fourth spot with $10 million, which is devastating for its Backers at Lionsgate Films as it was made for $90 million.  Meanwhile, The Smurfs 3-D is still going strong in sixth spot behind Fright Night with $8 million, now having earned $118 million in four weeks. Sony Pictures recently announced plans to do a Sequel to this successful first installment.

The Romance One Day debuts in ninth spot for Focus Features/Alliance Films with $5 million, while Crazy, Stupid, Love. rounds out the Top Ten for Warner Bros.

"RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES" DOESN'T MONKEY AROUND AT BOX OFFICE

Still from Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is an easy Winner at the Box Office this weekend, taking in $54 million in its debut for 20th Century Fox. Reviews also have been strong for the Film starring James Franco  and Freida Pinto with an 81% rating on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes; it was made for $90 million and likely will earn this back soon.

The Smurfs 3-D is second in its second week with $21 million for Sony Pictures, edging out last week's champion Cowboys and Aliens, which brought in $15.7 million this weekend.

In fourth spot in a soft opening is Comedy The Change-Up starring Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds with $13.5 million, landing just ahead of Captain America: The First Avenger which in its third week earns $13 million - a total domestic gross of $143 million.

Crazy, Stupid, Love. slips to sixth spot for Warner Bros. with $12 million. It has yet to earn back its $50 million budget with a tally of $41.6 in North America, but also it hasn't opened overseas yet also.

Rounding out the Top Ten is Transformers: Dark of the Moon with $3.0 million in its sixth week. To-date it has earned a staggering $344.5 million.

"THE SMURFS 3-D" AND "COWBOYS & ALIENS" BATTLE TOOTH AND NAIL

Still from The Smurfs 3-D

Critics hated them both but Moviegoers loved them both equally... one just a little more than the other.  In one of the tightest finishes at the Box Office in recent memory, Universal Pictures' Cowboys and Aliens, starring Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig, fought tooth and nail to edge out The Smurfs 3-D with $36.4 million.  The former  was panned by Critics with a 44% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while the latter equally was torn to shreds with an 18% consensus on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer. The Motion Picture based on those lovable blue creatures who many in the '80s grew-up watching, earned $35.6 million for Sony Pictures.  

Last week's champion Captain America: The First Avenger slips to third spot with $25 million in its second week, bringing its tally to $110 million in North America.  The Marvel adaptation was made for $140 million.

Warner Bros.' Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 finished just ahead in fourth of another Film from the studio, Crazy Stupid Love. The Rom-Com perhaps had the misfortune of opening on a busy weekend, but it still debuts in a dignified fifith with $18.6 million.  This one looks to be a stayer with many positive reviews pouring in.

Friends with Benefits in its second week, slips to sixth spot with $9.3 million for Sony Pictures, earning $38 million total thus far, just making back its $35 million invested in production costs.

Rounding out the Top Ten is Disney's Cars 2, with $2.5 million earned this weekend.  To-date the Film has made $354 million worldwide in six weeks.

VIDEO: THE SMURFS MOVIE TRAILER

I totally pity those of you who were born in the '90s because you missed out on one of the greatest phenomenons of all time, The Smurfs.  Unless you saw re-runs of it, that is.  Here's the just-released teaser trailer for the upcoming live-animation film version of the series, with an intro by its star Neil Patrick Harris.  Filming is still on-going in New York City right now.  Cute.

AN EARLY LOOK: THE SMURFS MOVIE

More details have been leaked about The Smurfs movie and the cast is looking spectacular.  Confirmed so far are Katy Perry (Smurfette), Fred Armisen (Brainy Smurf), Neil Patrick Harris (Johan), Hank Azaria (Gargamel), Kevin James (Hefty Smurf), Alan Cumming (Gutsy Smurf), George Lopez (Grouchy Smurf), Jonathan Winters (Papa Smurf) and many more notable, although primarily television actors. 

Although it was originally slated for a Holiday 2010 release, a new tentative release date of July 2011 has been announced for the Sony/Columbia Pictures film directed by Raja Gosnell (Big Momma's House, Beverly Hills Chihuahua).  Director Quentin Tarantino and Glee's Jayma Mays are also rumoured to be attached to the project.

The story will revolve around evil Gargamel casting a spell on The Smurfs leading them to be transported from their village right into the heart of New York City, thus the film will be a combination of Live Action and CGI animation.