“Tropic Thunder” hauled in another $16.1 million this past weekend to bring its two-week total to $65.7 million.

Guess the boycott by several disability groups against the movie for its frequent use of the word “retard” didn’t make a dent in its profits.

But film boycotts can’t always be measured by dollars and cents.

Patricia King Hanson, Executive Editor and Project Director at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films, can’t remember a film boycott which successfully “killed” a movie at the box office. Sometimes, these protests cut into ticket sales in ways that prove difficult to gauge, Hanson says.

The film boycott tradition isn’t new. It dates back to the dawn of movies.

The 1915 epic “The Birth of the Nation” inspired boycotts for its deeply offensive treatment of black characters. The film was later used by the Klu Klux Klan for recruitment purposes.

“It was still an enormous money maker,” she says.

Film boycotts face an uphill battle because they’re usually tied to a niche or single interest group, she says. If a film could tap the outrage of a larger community, they would have a greater impact.

Boycotts prove far more effective when dealing with television shows.

“If people swamp sponsors with negative calls and emails to protest a certain show, that could cause some serious damage,” she says.

Hindu groups boycotted the latest Mike Myers’s comedy, “The Love Guru,” and they claimed their efforts sealed the film’s box office fate. They blasted “Guru” for what they called its demeaning treatment of their religion.

But audience indifference, and a critical scathing rare in its savagery, likely were the root causes of its poor showing.

Movie boycotts don’t just look to impact a movie’s bottom line, says Diane Waldman, associate professor in Mass Communication and Journalism Studies at the University of Denver. They can draw invaluable attention to a particular cause even if ticket sales soar.

Waldman points to the NAACP’s reaction to “The Birth of a Nation,” as well as more recent examples like the gay, lesbian and transgendered community’s outrage over “Basic Instinct” and “Silence of the Lambs” and Arab-American complaints against “True Lies.” Each gave a higher profile to the group in question.

Boycotts throughout film history helped spark the film industry to various self-censorship efforts. Hollywood’s Production Code became reality, in part, thanks to the work done by the Catholic Legion of Decency which identified objectionable material in films.

“Threatened boycotts actually changed and shaped the content of films, as well as what happened to them after they were released,” she says.

Joe Leydon, a contributor to Variety and MovieMaker Magazine, was working at the Houston Post when 1988‘s “The Last Temptation of Christ” hit theaters. He covered the opening-day protests at New York’s Ziegfeld Theatre, and then returned to Houston to find picketers appearing on a regular basis at the theaters showing the film.

“I wonder if the protesters actually called more attention to ‘Last Temptation,’” says Leydon, who blogs at movingpictureblog.blogspot.com.

“Christ” went on to early $8.4 million in its theatrical run.

“On the other hand, I wonder if the media may have underestimated the damage done to ‘The Golden Compass’ by protesters who objected to the allegedly ‘anti-Christian’ content of its source material? “ he asks.

But one thing is clear. The next screenwriter who wants to use the word “retard” in his material will think twice before doing so.

That means the groups boycotting “Tropic Thunder” have already won no matter how rich the movie’s grosses make its stars and studio.

(Photo: The cast of “Tropic Thunder,” a new comedy which drew protests for its repeated use of the word “retard.”)

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It’s only August 21, but let’s face facts. The summer movie season is history. So let’s hand out some awards to the best, the brightest … and everything in between. What the world needs now is another award category, right?

So without further ado …

Best Reason to Kick Your Television Set – “The Clone Wars” - This half-hearted feature was originally meant for the small screen — where it belongs.

Most Repulsive Torso – Jack Black in “Tropic Thunder” - OK, you’re comfortable with your lumpy body. We get it. Now put it away.

Best Reason to Beware the Great Trailer – “Pineapple Express” - Wish I never saw the riotous red band trailer that set me up for this major letdown.

Sauciest Performance by a 50-something Actress – Joan Allen in “Death Race” - Not your typical beauty, but she rocks as the icy prison warden in this cheese-fest.

Best Reason to Clean Your Drum Kit – “Step Brothers” - You’ll never pick up a pair of drumsticks again without thinking of this movie’s “musical” sequence.

Movie Most Likely to Be Left Out of Any Pierce Brosnan Film Retrospective – “Mamma Mia!: ’nuff said.

(Photo: Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly take one giant leap for stupid comedies in “Step Brothers”)

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1. Weirdest credit of the week? month? year?

Guess the boycott of “Tropic Thunder” by disability groups concerned over the film’s repeated use of the word “retard” didn’t have much effect – so far.

“Tropic Thunder” came in first place this weekend, drawing about $26 million (final numbers to be released this week).

Not too shabby for an R-rated comedy, but as with most films the truer test will be the second weekend. Will good WOM spread, or will the boycott chatter take a toll on audience interest. “The Dark Knight” finally fell to second place, but it earned enough $$$ this weekend to become the second highest picture in history.

“The Clone Wars” came in third, drawing $15 million. That’s far from blockbuster figures, but considering the film is a glorified TV show primer, it could have been worse.

Clearly, the “Star Wars” tag doesn’t have the cache it once had, though.

(Photo: “Tropic Thunder,” a new comedy about actors shooting a Vietnam War film, drew the top spot this weekend.)

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The recent boycott of “Tropic Thunder” by various disability groups could have long term effects behind the movie itself.

It’s likely “Tropic Thunder” will be a smash. It serves up big laughs and a sterling performance by Robert Downey, Jr..

But the PC powers that be have decided that the R-word, “retard,” will soon be off limits in public discourse. Will that make the world better? Of course not. Will it give creative types pause every time they try to push the proverbial envelope? You betcha.

As luck would have it, I received “The Office: Season 4″ in the mail today. The four-disc set comes with a full script from an “Office” episode. I opened it up to a random page and the word “retard” jumped out at me.

Will “The Office” face a boycott? Will that episode, “The Dinner Party,” be edited in future airings?

(Photo: Steve Carell stars as the unctuous boss in NBC’s hit comedy “The Office.”)

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1. I know it’s just part of the PR blitz …

Ben Stiller gets plenty of props for being a box office draw, but few people cut him much slack for his directorial efforts.

That’s a shame since “The Cable Guy” got a bum rap, and Stiller’s “Zoolander” has emerged as a minor comic classic.

Now’s he’s dropped himself into the very big leagues with “Tropic Thunder,” a big-budget, bigger cast comedy which he directed, co-wrote and stars in.

He plays Tugg Speedman, a vain actor (redundant?) who’s shooting a Vietnam War film on location. Tugg and the cast think it’s all a glorified Hollywood set, but the film’s desperate director (Steve Coogan) deposits the cast in an actual hot spot to keep the actors in line.

Calamity follows, and the actors (Jack Black and Robert Downey, Jr. among them) must fend for themselves if they ever want to return home in one piece.

Hollywood loves insider parodies, but this is one comic tale that people who don’t live and die by the next issue of Variety can appreciate. The cheeky cameos help. Matthew McConaughey keeps his shirt on but otherwise feels right at home as Tugg’s morally challenged agent. And Tom Cruise’s well reported appearance is nearly as good as presold. Cruise plays a maniacal studio executive who barrels over anything in his path. It’s precisely the kind of role he needs to restore his good name.

Or at least kick start the process.

“Thunder’s” humor takes the kitchen sink approach, wallowing in silliness in between fits of inspiration. The latter mostly comes courtesy of Downey, Jr. He plays an Aussie Oscar winner who artificially darkens his skin to play a black soldier. It’s the ultimate acting challenge, he figures.

The role would crumble in lesser hands, but the erstwhile “Iron Man” is fully in character – and uniformly hilarious – without ever stepping over the stereotype line. He’s the butt of his own joke.

So, too, is Tugg thanks to a movie within a movie named “Simple Jack,” even if it’s not executed as smoothly as Downey, Jr.’s storyline.

“Tropic Thunder” is drawing fire from special interest groups for the latter and its frequent use of the word “retard,” but discerning audiences will know where the humor is targeted. And they’ll be laughing too hard to take offense.

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(Photo: “Tropic Thunder” finds Ben Stiller, far left, leading a group of actors into enemy territory to shoot a movie. Photo credit: Merie Weismiller Wallace)

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Some special interest groups have declared war on “Tropic Thunder,” and it’s gonna get ugly.

The comedy, out this Wednesday, mocks a group of pretentious actors who are shooting a Vietnam War movie on location. Little do they know that they’ve been dropped in an actual war zone – but they think it’s all part of the Hollywood smoke screen.

The comedy includes a white actor (Robert Downey, Jr.) in black face, but several groups who represent the mentally and physically challenged are outraged by the movie’s film within a film – “Simple Jack.” (hat tip: Dirty Harry’s Place)

A boycott is coming to a theater near you.

In “Simple Jack,” Stiller plays the title character, a mentally challenged man whose behavior is ripped right out of the simpleton handbook.

Offensive, right?

But the subplot’s point is to mock Stiller’s character for taking on a role he thinks will earn him an Oscar. Hey, it worked for Dustin Hoffman with “Rain Main,” right? Stiller is the butt of the joke all the way through.

That won’t stop the protests, even though boycotts typically serve as meaty PR for the film in question.

So can we expect Stiller’s Hollywood pals to rally to his defense? Maybe throw the “free speech” card down? Don’t hold your breath. You’ll hear more crickets chirping than actors rushing to the nearest reporter’s notepad to defend their peers – and the ability to create art as they see fit.

Expect some tap dancing by Stiller and co. – and maybe even a PSA or two to smooth things over.

Will be fascinating to see how it all plays out, even though we’ve seen this production before.

UPDATE: Here’s one call to shut the film down for good.

UPDATE 2: The LA Times tracks down a gaggle of film critics, including yours truly, who are standing up for the film.

(Photo: Jack Black, Robert Downey, Jr. and Ben Stiller are hunting fictional Viet Cong soldiers in “Tropic Thunder”)

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When news leaked that Robert Downey, Jr. would be playing in modern blackface for the comedy “Tropic Thunder” a few talking heads and bloggers squawked about the move’s inherent racism.

Hard to take a chance like this in our uber-sensitive times and not expect some blowback.

So it’ll be interesting to see how the public – and the pundits – react to the actual movie when it opens on Wednesday (Aug. 13).

Saw “Tropic Thunder” last night, and I suspect sensitive types won’t like some of what they see. Downey, Jr.’s performance may be terrific, but it could play poorly in Punditland, a place where citizens live to be offended.

I’m guessing there won’t be much strife about it. For starters, the PC Police already assaulted star/director Ben Stiller for how the film portrays a movie-in-a-movie about mental retardation. And much of the “it’s racist!” charge got played out when the casting news was first announced.

(Photo: Robert Downey, Jr., center, plays an Oscar winning actor who alters his skin pigmentatin to play a black soldier in “Tropic Thunder.” Ben Stiller, left, and Jack Black, right, co-star.)

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