Box office update: 'The Help' wins the three day weekend with $14.2 million

Our full box office report for the extended Labor Day weekend will be posted on Monday. In the meantime, here’s what happened at the box office during the typical three day frame:

The Help topped the chart again for a third weekend in a row (although it has been out for four weeks), dropping a miniscule 2 percent and earning an estimated $14.2 million—far better than any of the weekend’s new releases. The Help has accrued an impressive running total of $118.6 million.

The Debt finished in second place with a $9.7 million debut. The Helen Mirren thriller, which debuted on Wednesday, has grossed $11.6 million thus far. Apollo 18 and Shark Night 3D, meanwhile, finished in third and fourth place, respectively. Apollo 18 earned $8.7 million, while Shark Night 3D was close behind with $8.6 million.

In fifth, Rise of the Planet of the Apes fell only 12 percent from last weekend to $7.8 million, pushing its total to $160 million, while in sixth, Colombiana dropped 29 percent to $7.4 million, lifting its cume to $22 million.

Check back tomorrow for the full box office report, complete with analysis and CinemaScore data.

1. The Help – $14.2 mil

2. The Debt – $9.7 mil

3. Apollo 18 – $8.7 mil

4. Shark Night 3D – $8.6 mil

5. Rise of the Planet of the Apes – $7.8

6. Colombiana – $7.4 mil

Follow Grady on Twitter: @BoxOfficeJunkie