The Derby of Middle August

The Nikkster throws up her usual early numbers.

1. Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (Fox) Week 2 [3,691 Theaters] Friday $7.8M (-60%), Estimated Weekend $26M, Estimated Cume $104M

2. The Help (DreamWorks/Disney) NEW (Wed opening) [2,534 Theaters] Friday $7.5M, Estimated Weekend $22M, Estimated Cume $32M

3. Final Destination 5 - 3D (New Line/Warner Bros) NEW [3,155 Theaters] Friday $7.3M, Estimated Weekend $18M

4. 30 Minutes Or Less (Sony) NEW [2,888 Theaters] Friday $4.5M, Estimated Weekend $13M

5. The Smurfs (Sony) Week 3 [3,427 Theaters] Friday $3.7M, Estimated Weekend $13M, Estimated Cume $101M

6. Glee - 3D (Fox) NEW [2,040 Theaters] Friday $2.8M, Estimated Weekend $7M

7. Cowboys & Aliens (DreamWorks/Universal) Week 3 [3,310 Theaters] Friday #7 $2.1M, Estimated Weekend $7M, Estimated Cume $80.8M

8. Crazy, Stupid, Love (Warner Bros) Week 3 [2,635 Theaters] Friday $2.1M, Estimated Weekend $7M, Estimated Cume $55.3M

9. Captain America (Marvel/Disney/Paramount) Week 4 [2,835 Theaters] Friday $1.9M, Estimated Weekend $6.5M, Estimated Cume $156.2M

10. The Change-Up (Universal) Week 2 [2,913 Theaters] Friday $1.9M (-60%), Estimated Weekend $6M, Estimated Cume $25.5M

The Smurfs now pulls handily away from the mega-budget Cowboys and Aliens. (When people don't want to see your hybrid Western-Space Opera, you cant stop them.)

Meanwhile, as of Thursday, 14th place Cars 2 had collected $185.5 million domestically, 15th place Winnie the Pooh stood at $24.9 million and 16th place Kung Fu Panda 2 was at $163 million.