The DreamWorks drama has been the No. 1 film for two-straight weekends. The acclaimed adaptation of Kathryn Stockett's novel about black Southern maids sharing stories about white employers amid the civil-rights movement raised its domestic total to $96.6 million and should cross the $100 million mark Tuesday.
The film pulled in a modest $14.3 million at the box office. It was a slow weekend at the movies, due in part to Hurricane Irene.
"Colombiana" starring Zoe Saldano opened in second place, earning $10.3 million.
"Don't Be Afraid of the Dark," "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" and "Our Idiot Brother" round out the top five.
The top 10 movies of the weekend were:
1. "The Help," $14.3 million.
2. "Colombiana," $10.3 million.
3. "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark," $8.7 million.
4. "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," $8.65 million ($22.1
million international).
5. "Our Idiot Brother," $6.6 million.
6. "Spy Kids: All the Time in the World," $5.7 million.
7. "The Smurfs," $4.8 million.
8. "Conan the Barbarian," $3.1 million.
9. "Fright Night," $3 million.
10. "Crazy, Stupid, Love," $2.9 million.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
