"Contagion" brought in $23.1 million in ticket sales over its first three days of release, distributor Warner Bros. said. The film tells the story of the race to contain a lethal virus that is quickly circling the globe.
"The Help," a surprise summer hit about black maids in civil rights-era Mississippi, slipped to second place after three straight weeks at No. 1. The film rung up $8.7 million over the weekend.
"Warrior," a new drama about two brothers who battle in a mixed martial arts tournament, pulled in $5.6 million to finish in third place.
Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc, released "Contagion." Lions Gate Entertainment distributed "Warrior." "The Help" was produced by DreamWorks and distributed by Walt Disney Co. (Reuters)
