“INCEPTION” — AN EVEN BIGGER WEEKEND THAN ESTIMATED

Inception on Sunday performed much better than studio executives thought that it would, earning $2.4 million more than their original estimates. Total weekend ticket sales came to $62.8 million. Some analysts expected the film to rack up strong midweek sales as many of those who took in the film over the weekend returned to try to figure out what had happened in the dream-within-a-dream plot. The weekend’s only other movie to open wide, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, had a dismal reception from critics and moviegoers alike. Opening on 4,800 screens, the fantasy adventure collected just $17.6 million for Disney, which reportedly spent $150 million to make it. The film earned $24.7 million from its Wednesday debut.

The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Box Office Mojo (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date):
1. Inception, Warner Bros., $62,785,337, (New); 2. Despicable Me, Universal, $32,803,660, 2 Wks. ($118,434,555); 3. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Disney, $17,619,622, 1 Wk. ($24,708,059); 4. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, Summit, $13,420,480, 3 Wks. ($264,791,897); 5. Toy Story 3, Disney, $11,998,276, 5 Wks. ($362,965,378); 6. Grown Ups, Sony, $9,911,016, 4 Wks. ($129,165,357); 7. The Last Airbender, Paramount, $7,755,153, 4 Wks. ($115,138,607); 8. Predators, 20th Century Fox, $7,016,502, 2 Wks. ($40,300,543); 9. Knight and Day, 20th Century Fox, $3,608,021, 3 Wks. ($69,117,400); 10. The Karate Kid, Sony, $2,288,707, 6 Wks. ($169,290,675).