1. Inception
Gross: $60,400,000 (new)
Screens: 3,792 (PSA: $15,928)
Weeks: new
Kicking around in the comments, I see that some think there's an anti-Inception bias here at Movieline HQ. Let me dispel that scurrilous rumor by saying I think Inception was absolutely brilliant and probably one of the best movies of the year. We're allowed a rainbow of opinions here at Movieline. It's not like Stephanie Zacharek roams around the halls ominously swinging a cricket bat, looking to violently enforce a lockstep opinion. (But if you do decide to do this SZ, please remember that I makes my livings off my face, so I would kindly ask you to go solely for my junk)
2. Despicable Me
Gross: $32,734,000 ($118,365,000)
Screens: 3,501 (PSA: $9,350)
Weeks: 1 (change: -42.0%)
Another solid week for Universal Studio's sole hit. I wonder how quickly they'll retrofit The Simpsons' ride at the Universal theme park into a 3-D Despicable Me ride?
3. The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Gross: $17,373,000 ($24,461,000)
Screens: 3,504 (PSA: $4,958)
Weeks: new
Between this and Prince of Persia, it has not been a very kind summer to Jerry Bruckheimer. I'm sure he's quite upset with these back-to-back flops and sadly only has his hundreds of millions upon millions of dollars to comfort himself with. That poor, inconsolable bastard.
4. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Gross: $13,500,000 ($264,900,000)
Screens: 4,001 (PSA: $3,374)
Weeks: 2 (-57.4%)
The last time I went home, I found my sister's old New Kids on the Block sleeping bag, which embarrassed her to no end. I wonder if, twenty or so years hence, women will be trying to hastily explain their collection of Team Jacob paraphernalia with the same hemming and hawing as my sister did for her collage of Joey McIntyre pin-ups?
5. Toy Story 3
Gross: $11,742,000 ($362,709,00)
Screens: 3,177 (PSA: $3,696)
Weeks: 4 (change: -44.1%)
A solid month after opening and Toy Story 3 is still in the top five. I would just caution Pixar to enjoy the universal acclaim while it can -- I have a feeling people won't be so rapturous over Planes
[Numbers via Box Office Mojo]