Weekend Box Office: 'Salt' no match for unstoppable 'Inception'

Joseph Gordon-Levitt commands the screen in one of the most breathtaking and thrilling sequences of Christopher Nolan's "INCEPTION." Photo: Warner Brothers 

Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” has officially saved the summer by following in the footsteps of the director’s “The Dark Knight” and becoming a box office phenomenon. While it may never scale the heights of the Batman sequel, it should be able to stake claim as the year’s most successful original film, when all is said and done. One week after it topped the box office charts with a sensational $62.4 million, the Academy Award-nominated filmmaker’s science fiction puzzler once again comfortably topped the box office charts in its second week with a dreamy $42.7 million, thanks to a sensational sophomore hold that ranks as the best for any big-budget blockbuster this year. While failing to come close to “Inception,” the Angelina Jolie-starrer “Salt” also performed exceedingly well at the box office in second place while animation hits “Despicable Me” and “Toy Story 3” continued their dominance of the 2010 box office. 

Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Page navigate
through dreams in "Inception." Photo: Warners

Dreams do come true for Chris Nolan and company as “Inception” was once again the number one movie in America with a fantastic $42.7 million at the box office. In doing so, it became only the fourth movie (and first non-sequel) to top the box office for more than one week this summer. With a per-theater average of $11,267 – the highest of any movie in the top ten – the sci-fi actioner dropped a paltry 32% from last weekend – an incredible result as no other big-budget movie has managed to hold on so well in its second weekend this year, especially ones that open with more than $35 million in their first weekends. What makes the hold even more impressive is that almost all science fiction and action movies that open big have at least 45% drops in their sophomore weekends plus “Inception” faced direct competition from “Salt,” another action movie. This goes to show that isn’t only critics and movie fans that are falling in love with “Inception” but general audiences as well. Looks like Chris Nolan and company are looking good to score multiple nominations at next year’s Academy Awards. With a cool $142.8 million already in the bag and zero direct competition for at least two weeks, expect “Inception” to easily zip by $200 million, flirt with the $250 million mark and perhaps even look up to touching the elusive $300 million barrier – something that only three original (non-sequel/prequel) science fiction films have managed to cross in the last two decades – “Avatar,” “Independence Day” and “Jurassic Park.” READ MY REVIEW HERE.

Angelina Jolie once again proved why she’s one of the highest and most respected movie stars in the world as her latest action movie “Salt” (a.k.a. the Jason Bourne rip-off) opened with a commanding $36 million in second place. While the opening wasn’t strong enough to dethrone the mighty “Inception” which has been receiving phenomenal word-of-mouth and buzz, it was much stronger than any other original action movie this summer – a list which includes the likes of “The A-Team” (more like the B-grade team), “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” (“Pirates of the Caribbean” in the desert), “Jonah Hex” (a.k.a. “Wild Wild West 2”) and “Knight and Day” (the comedic “Mission: Impossible”). It was an even sweeter victory for Jolie because this was the project Tom Cruise dropped in favor of “Knight and Day” which in turn managed to gross only about $20 million in its opening weekend. With decent reviews and word-of-mouth, “Salt” shouldn’t have a problem recouping its budget; whether that will be enough to warrant a sequel is a different matter. READ MY REVIEW HERE.

Angelina Jolie takes on Bourne in "Salt." Photo: Sony

Animation wonder “Despicable Me” continued to hold strong in third after it dropped a miniscule 28% from last weekend for a $23.6 million cum to take its total to a beautiful $161.2 million. According to box office site BoxOfficeGuru.com, “Despicable Me” has now become Universal Pictures’ highest grossing film in three years and should be able to hold strong for a final gross between $225 and $250 million. With the sensational success of “Inception,” “Salt” and “Despicable Me,” moviegoers have officially spoken out with their wallets that what they want is more original content instead of boring and flat sequels, remakes and prequels. Too bad Hollywood has already programmed 40 sequels, prequels and remakes for next year (I’m not kidding, look up the list). READ MY REVIEW HERE.

After a disappointing opening cum last weekend, Disney’s “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” dropped a spot to fourth place for a weekend gross of $9.6 million and an overall total of $42.6 million. Though the movie dropped a decent 45%, it stands to end up its run with only $75 million – a number half of its reported $150 million budget. Count this as one of the biggest flops of the year. Looks like Nic Cage will have to find some other way to repopulate his receding bank account (and hairline). READ MY REVIEW HERE.

“Toy Story 3,” the year’s biggest blockbuster, wrapped up the top five with a $8.9 million gross to take its overall total to a jaw-dropping $379.4 million. With at least a month to go before it drops out of most cinemas, the acclaimed three-quel should manage to make its way past the elusive $400 million point – a number that only 10 movies have crossed in film history. READ MY REVIEW HERE.

Selena Gomez and Joey King in "Ramona and
Beezus." Photo: Fox

 As expected, the weekend’s other debutant wide release “Ramona and Beezus” opened with a weak, but expected $7.8 million. Although it only cost $15 million and should end up being a profitable film for its studio by the time international and DVD receipts come into play, its poor debut fits right in with the dreadful performances of every 20th Century Fox release this summer, starting with “Marmaduke,” “The A-Team,” “Knight and Day” and “Predators.” It’s a good thing James Cameron made them a ton of cash earlier this year or else the studio’s entire management team would have been in the doghouse for this disaster.

 Adam Sandler’s “Grown Ups” continued to hold impressively in seventh place with $7.4 million to take its total up to $142 million. Look for the sequel entitled “Same Old Shit” to hit theaters next summer (just kidding). READ MY REVIEW HERE.

“The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” continued its steady decline with a $7.1 million gross, taking its total to $279 million. At its current pace, “Eclipse” is performing at a slightly better rate than its predecessor and stands to finish out with a $310 million final gross. With the first part of the two-part “Breaking Dawn” scheduled to hit theaters next fall, expect the grosses on this estrogen-laden series to keep on sky-rocketing. READ MY REVIEW HERE.

Self-proclaimed spiritual filmmaker M. Night Shyamalanadingdong’s latest cinematic abortion “The Last Airbender” simply won’t disappear from cinemas as it hijacked another $4.2 million from naïve moviegoers to take its unholy total to $123.3 million. READ MY REVIEW HERE.

Rounding out the top ten was action-horror hybrid “Predators” which has dropped all the way to tenth place in the span of just two weeks. Despite this, its $3.1 million weekend gross has enabled it to gross $46.8 million, enough to recoup its $40 million budget and make it a profit for the struggling studio. READ MY REVIEW HERE.

NEXT WEEK: Steve Carell is back in multiplexes for the third time this year after his two successful outings with “Date Night” and voicing Gru in this month’s “Despicable Me.” While “DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS” may look great on paper, the trailers haven’t been too impressive so this is the type of film that’s going to have to rely heavily on reviews and word-of-mouth. Also opening in wide release will be the weepy Zach Efron coming-of-age drama “CHARLIE ST. CLOUD” as well as the sequel nobody (except a million 5-year-olds) wants to see: “CATS AND DOGS: THE REVENGE OF KITTY GALORE.” Look out for my review of “Dinner for Schmucks” sometime next week.

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SOURCES: BoxOfficeGuru, ERC BoxOffice (Chart)