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'The Help' helps itself to a strong start at the box office
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"The Help" scored a pretty strong debut at the box office on Wednesday (Aug. 10), displacing a bunch of angry apes from the top spot.The well-reviewed drama starring Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer and Bryce Dallas Howard earned $5.5 million Wednesday, not bad for a movie without any huge stars or splashy effects. What it does have is a built-in audience via Kathryn Stockett's best-selling novel.
Disney, which is distributing the DreamWorks-produced movie, had estimated "The Help" would make in the neighborhood of $20 million over its first five days. Since it got more than a quarter of the way there on its first day, that estimate may turn out to be a little bit low.
"The Help" pushed last weekend's No. 1 movie, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," down one spot to second in Wednesday's box office rankings. It made $4.9 million to push its six-day total to just above $73 million.
"The Help" will get more competition on Friday from three movies scheduled to open in wide release: "Final Destination 5," "30 Minutes or Less" and "Glee: The 3D Concert Movie."
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Photo/Video credit: DreamWorks
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Great movie! Best movie experience I've had in years.
I will not see The Help. Why? The executive producer Nate Berkus is a stylist, not an executive producer. It's ridiculous how people in the "biz" can just step into any position they want, while others have to struggle for recognition. Also, his staff at his daytime show paint him to be the biggest diva and phony. For his sake he really needs to be more involved in his show before it is soon cancelled.
The book is so much better. Not a good movie, just fair.
I was so disappointed in this film. So overrated.
The cast is good, the movie is not. I agree Nate Berkus as executive producer??? It gives the film less credibility.
I like Emma Stone, but other than that. There were only 9 people at a 7:00 P.M. show. The opening day interest has faded quickly. I can see why.
Nate and the director play for the same team. Everyone in the industry knows how he became "EXECUTIVE PRODUCER". Movie is average. Plays like a Lifetime movie.
The theater was empty when I saw it. It was an okay film. Seeing Nate's name as executive producer looked s out of place. Stick with what you know, Nate,
Love the book, hate the movie.
I agree. I dont get the Nate Berkus connection with this film. Just luck. I hear there's turmoil on his show. All guests must look a certain way, Nate is so vain. Guests are hand picked by their appearance to be a part of the show. I have no desire to see this movie.