Inception kicks Angelina Jolie’s ass at the box office

Looks like Angelina Jolie has another hit on her hands. Salt, the spy caper from director Philip Noyce bowed to an estimated $12 million on Friday, a number that sets it up for a possible $35 million weekend. Still, the action-packed thriller is no match for Inception, Christopher Nolan’s dreamy heist film that earned an additional $13 million on Friday for a weekend that will likely hit $40 million. The movie, which crossed the $100 million mark on Thursday, could surpass $140 by weekend’s end–quite impressive for such an original, thought-provoking summer flick.

The rest of the top five on Friday was made up of family films, though none of them are likely to be the weekend’s other new release Ramona and Beezus. The G-rated adaptation of Beverly Cleary’s classic children’s books is likely to land in the sixth spot this weekend with maybe $8 million to its name. Despicable Me however could grab the third slot. The animated hit starring the voice talent of Steve Carell grossed north of $7 million on Friday for a weekend that could total $24 million. That would put the three-week gross at over $160 million. Disney’s two wide releases The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and Toy Story 3 are both jockeying for the fourth slot, a position that could get more competitive if Ramona and Beezus gets an uptick today from the young girl audience. Both The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and Toy Story 3 grossed north of $2 million on Friday and will each be in the $9-10 million range for the weekend.

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