Despite what many had thought would be some strong competition, in the end The Butler topped the US box office for a second week with $17 million, with We’re The Millers coming second once more with $13.5 million.
That was enough to beat newcomer The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones, which despite suggestion early on its marketing that it was on track to be the new Twilight (and resulted in a sequel already being in the works), took $9.3 million over the weekend and $14 million since it opened last Wednesday. As young adult adaptations tend to be quite front loaded and then drop off, it doesn’t suggest this will become a hit in the long run (and certainly doesn’t bode well for the sequel).
The World’s End came in at number 4 on its US debut with $8.94 million. That’s more than either Hot Fuzz or Shaun Of The Dead, although those film got more limited releases. It’s not too bad though, especially as few expected it to do that brilliantly in America.
The horror film You’re Next took seventh spot on the chart with $7 million. It’s one of the weakest starts of the year for a nationwide horror release, but as it cost little to make, it’ll probably still end up turning a profit.
Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine expanded onto more screens in its fifth weekend at cinemas and made its first appearance in the top 10 with $4.3 million. It continues Allen’s run of decent earners after years when his movies barely made a cent.
Take a look below for the US box office top 10 for weekend of August 23rd-25th.
| Rank | Title | Weekend Gross (millions) | Total Gross to date (millions) |
| 1 | Lee Daniels’ The Butler | $17.0 | $52.2 |
| 2 | We’re The Millers | $13.5 | $91.7 |
| 3 | The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones | $9.3 | $14.0 |
| 4 | The World’s End | $8.9 | $8.9 |
| 5 | Planes | $8.5 | $59.5 |
| 6 | Elysium | $7.1 | $69.0 |
| 7 | You’re Next | $7.0 | $7.0 |
| 8 | Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters | $5.2 | $48.3 |
| 9 | Blue Jasmine | $4.3 | $14.7 |
| 10 | Kick-Ass 2 | $4.2 | $22.4 |
Considering the increasingly anti-gay Russian laws that are causing a firestorm of international controversy, it’s little surprise that a planned biopic of famed composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is planning to whitewash his sexuality. While most people agree that Tchaikovsky was gay – or at least as gay you could be in 19th Century Russia – screenwriter Yuri Arabov is having none of it.
Although more and more actors are feeling confident enough to come out (instead of either waiting until they were dead or coming out when they need to hawk an autobiography after their fame has waned), there are still a lot who are staying firmly in the closet. Just look at Wentworth Miller, who came out a couple of days ago but in 2006 adamantly stated in an interview “I’m not gay”.
There’s been plenty of reaction to Wentworth Miller coming out while making a statement against Russia anti-gay laws, and one of those who’s decided to congratulate him is White Collar and Magic Mike star Matthew Bomer.
When Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End was released, it was said Disney wanted to make a fifth film as soon as possible, but with the script taking longer than expected, Johnny Depp’s busy schedule and a change of director, it’s taken a while to get it ready.
Lionsgate has announced that Game Of Thrones star Natalie Dormer has joined the cast of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 & The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, playing Cressida.
Casey Affleck and director David Lowery recently teamed for Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, and now 
The long saga of trying to make a movie out of Stephen King’s The Stand continues with the news that Ben Affleck has dropped out of the director’s seat. Warner isn’t dropping the film though, as Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart) is already in early talks to take the helm, according to