The alien-themed movie Attack the Block made $130,000 this weekend with a $16,250 per screen average — nearly twice as much as the weekend's box office champion, Rise of the Planet of the Apes. The British import has been promoted for months now, with its distributor, Screen Gems, conducting aggressive fan outreach initiatives — including various early screenings like ones at the SXSW earlier this year. The film has also enjoyed favorable reviews like one proclaiming Attack the Block "may wind up as one of the best action movies of the year." However, despite its success, the film has not been expanded beyond its eight screens across the country.  Hopefully, Attack the Block will receive the wider release that it deserves. 

The James Franco led film  Rise of the Planet of the Apes earned an impressive $54 million domestically in its opening weekend. The prequel to the 1972 classic will more than likely continue its box office success, partly due to the cult following of the franchise.

Not every new release can boast of good news, however. The Universal Pictures release The Change-Up, starring Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman, grossed only $13.5 million. The movie pits the two stars as buddies who accidentally trade lives and end up in each other’s body.

(Photo: Studio Canal)