Box office bounced back – how could it do otherwise? – after last week’s historic low as the Screen Gems thriller starring Idris Elba beat Dolphin Tale 2 to open top on an estimated $24.5m.

Overall box office for the top 12 gained 53% on last weekend and fell 12% against the comparable session in 2013.

Warner Bros’ aforementioned family sequel Dolphin Tale 2 arrived in second place on $16.6m, down 13% against the $19.2m number three debut of its September 2011 predecessor. The drop rises to 18% when Dolphin Tale’s $19.2m debut is adjusted for inflation to $20.3m in today’s terms.

Marvel Studios’ Guardians Of The Galaxy in third place crossed $300m through Buena Vista to reach $305.9m after seven sessions, while Paramount’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ranks fourth on $181m after six.

Fresh from its Toronto world premiere, Fox Searchlight’s drama The Drop starring Tom Hardy and the late James Gandolfini arrived at number six on $4.2m.

Sundance entry The Skeleton Twins starring Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader opened through Roadside Attractions on $411,000 in 15 theatres for an excellent $27,400 average.

Cohen Media Group delivered a mediocre $134,000 debut for recent Toronto world premiere My Old Lady starring Maggie Smith from 11 sites for a $12,182 average.

TWC opened its relationship drama The Disappearance Of Eleanor Rigby starring James McAvoy and Jessica Chastain on $77,181 from four for a highly promising $19,295 average.

Next week’s wide releases are Fox’s YA adaptation The Maze Runner; Warner Bros ensemble comedy and Toronto world premiere This Is Where I Leave You led by Jason Bateman and Tina Fey; Universal’s Liam Neeson crime thriller A Walk Among The Tombstones; and A24’s Tusk, Kevin Smith’s horror film, another Toronto world premiere.

Estimated Top 10 North America Sept 12-14 2014
Film (Dist) / Est wkd gross / Est total to date

1 (-) No Good Deed (Screen Gems) SPRI $24.5m –

2 (-) Dolphin Tale 2 (Warner Bros) WBPI $16.6m –

3 (1) Guardians Of The Galaxy (Buena Vista/Marvel) WDSMPI $8m $305.9m

4 (2) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Paramount) PPI $4.8m $181m

5 (3) Let’s Be Cops (Fox) Fox International $4.3m $72.9m

6 (-) The Drop (Fox Searchlight) Fox International $4.2m –

7 (4) If I Stay (Warner Bros-MGM) WBPI $4.1m $44.9m

8 (5) The November Man (Relativity Media) The Solution Entertainment Group $2.8m $22.5m

9 (7) The Giver (TWC) TWC International $2.6m $41.3m

10 (9) The Hundred-Foot Journey (Buena Vista-Participant Media) WDSMPI $2.5m $49.4m

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