Weekend Box Office: 'The Help' At #1 For Third Straight Weekend

Despite three new wide releases -- including "Apollo 18," "The Debt", and "Shark Night 3D" -- it was "The Help" that held down the #1 at the weekend box office for the third weekend in a row.

The film added another $14.6 million over Labor Day Weekend, taking its domestic total $118.9 million. It's an adaptation of Kathryn Stockett's novel about black Southern maids sharing stories about white employers amid the civil-rights movement.

"The Help" has grown through word of mouth. It originally opened at #2 four weeks ago, behind "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," but has sat at the top spot since then.

"The Debt," a Holocaust action drama, had a better-than-expected debut, performed better than expected, taking the #2 slot with $9.9 million over the weekend, and $12.6 million including Monday. It's also a remake of a small 2007 Israeli picture, "Ha-Hov".

The science-fiction film "Apollo 18" took in $8.7 million ($10.7 million counting Monday) to land at #3. It purports to show "found footage" from a U.S. space mission, and boasted no major stars. It also had a mysterious marketing campaign, which revealed little about the film's story.

The thriller "Shark Night 3D," debuted at #4 with $8.3 million ($10.3 million with Monday). It's a Jaws-like horror flick in which a shark that targets vacationers.

Closing out the top 5 is "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," falling from #3 to #5 with $7.9 million. To date, its grosses over $160 million.

That's a wrap for this weekend. Next weekend, look out for the release of the Stephen Dorff and Christina Ricci comedy "Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star," the Warner Bros. action/thriller "Contagion" starring Matt Damon, and the action film "Warrior."

This weekend's top 10 is as follows:

1. "The Help," $14.6 million.
2. "The Debt," $9.9 million.
3. "Apollo 18," $8.7 million.
4. "Shark Night 3D," $8.3 million.
5. "Rise of the Planet of the apes," $7.9 million.
6. "Colombiana," $7.4 million.
7. "Our Idiot Brother," $5.4 million.
8. "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark," $5.1 million.
9. "Spy Kids: All the Time in the World," $4.8 million.
10. "The Smurfs," $4.1 million.