SEPTEMBER: HOT AT BOX OFFICE

Movie releases may ordinarily dwindle down to a precious few hits in September, but this month’s releases have already challenged that pattern. The month started off with The Butler raking in more than $20 million over the Labor Day holiday and the concert documentary One Direction: This Is Us earning an additional $18 million. Then, during the second weekend of the month, Riddick beat forecasts by opening with $18.7 million. And most recently, Insidious: Chapter 2 led the box office in the third weekend of September with $40.27 million, the second-best September opening ever (behind last year’s Hotel Transylvania which earned $42.52 million over the final three days of the month). In addition, the comedy The Family, starring Robert de Niro registered with a solid debut of $14.03 million. Total revenue for the top 12 films this weekend came to $89.45 million versus last year’s $69.01 — a 30-percent jump — when Resident Evil: Retribution topped the box office with $21.05 million.