Box Office: "The American" Beats Out "Machete"

Able to pull away from the pack, "The American" has grabbed ahold of the top spot at the box office over the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Making for a tight race, the George Clooney flick has raked in $12.9 million since its early release on Wednesday - with Saturday night (September 4) garnering the most cash thus far.

Meanwhile, Hayden Christensen's "Takers" jumped to second place with $11.4 million by overtaking the new Jessica Alba/Lindsay Lohan flick "Machete" - which pulled in $11.3 million.

Completing the weekend's top five movies were Lionsgate's "Last Exorcism" at $7.5 million and Drew Barrymore's "Going the Distance" at $6.9 million.