The Help and Inception might not have much in common thematically, but the former just matched the latter’s record for most weekends at #1, and it is the only film to do so since Christopher Nolan‘s 2010 blockbuster. Dropping only 2.3% and bringing its total to almost $118m, we may have to wait until The Dark Knight Rises to see that record matched again.

Even though it opened on Wednesday, Focus Features’ The Debt (also starring The Help‘s Jessica Chastain) topped the new releases bringing in $9.67m with a $11.57m total for the drama. The shlock fare of the weekend had less than stellar results, with Apollo 18 grabbing just $8.7m for third place, with Shark Night 3D just behind with $8.64m

Rise of the Planet of the Apes continues its excellent run, just crossing the $160m mark. Colombiana only dropped 28.9% after a disappointing first weekend with a total of $21.96m. The Smurfs crossed the $130m domestic mark, but its foreign gross is now at a staggering $427m total.

In limited releases, Seven Days in Utopia only grabbed $1.23m from 561 theaters, while foreign hit Saving Private Perez had a better average of $670k from 161 theaters. The Guard crossed the $2.5m threshold for Sony Pictures Classics, while Sarah’s Key just topped $5m for The Weinstein Company. Check out the top 10 below.

1. The Help – $14.2m – $118.6m
2. The Debt – $9.67m – $11.57m (debut)
3. Apollo 18 -$8.7m (debut)
4. Shark Night 3D – $8.64m (debut)
5. Rise of the Planet of the Apes – $7.8m – $160m
6. Colombiana – $7.4m – $21.96m
7. Our Idiot Brother – $5.18m – $15.4m
8. Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark – $4.94m – $16.38m
9. Spy Kids: All the Time in the World – $4.63m – $29m
10. The Smurfs – $4m – $131.95m

Next weeks sees wide releases of Contagion, Warrior and Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star. In limited theaters we have The Black Power Mix Tape: 1967-1975, Burke and Hare, Laugh at My Pain, Love in Space, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, My Kingdom, Shaolin, Tanner Hall, We Were Here and Where Soldiers Come From.

What did you see this weekend? Will you check out Warrior or Contagion next weekend?