Weekend Box Office Roundup (July 20-22)

1. The Dark Knight Rises (N)
$160.89 million ($160.89 million)
Originally expected to challenge The Avengers' opening weekend box office record of $207.44 million, The Dark Knight Rises came up short, notching the third highest opening weekend instead. The tragic events in Aurora, Colo., clearly played a role in the film's lower box office numbers. It's heartbreaking to know that people who just wanted nothing more than to enjoy the premiere of The Dark Knight Rises became victims to such a horrific event. Movies theaters are supposed to be oases from the troubles of the real world, a place to escape.

The Dark Knight Rises' $160.89 million mark does give the film the highest opening weekend for a non-3D film, something it should take pride in. As I mentioned last week, 3D movies have made a mess of the box office record game, illegitimatizing the record books with roided-up numbers.

2. Ice Age: Continental Drift (1)

$20.42 million ($88.84 million)

No Ice Age movies has ever broken the $200 million mark, and it looks like Ice Age: Continental Drift won't be any exception. The movie fell almost 60 percent from its opening weekend numbers, and I really don't see the movie as one with any kind of staying power. A mediocre installment of a mediocre series doesn't have word of mouth or repeat viewings to keep it afloat.

3. The Amazing Spider-Man (2)

$10.89 million ($228.61 million)
I had predicted that The Amazing Spider-Man would fall to No. 4 this weekend, losing much of its business to The Dark Knight Rises. Well, it did lose a lot of business this weekend, just not enough to fall past Ted. That said, The Amazing Spider-Man has done amazingly well. We should start hearing sequel talk pick up soon, with Sony's next priority being to secure Marc Webb for another installment.

4. Ted (3)

$10.01 million ($180.43 million)

A rough weekend at the box office probably delayed Ted's march to $200 million by a week or two, but I'm sure the foul-mouthed teddy bear'll get there eventually.

5. Brave (4)

$6.02 million ($208.78 million)

It's a good thing Pixar is moving forward with a Finding Nemo sequel, because Brave will be lucky to make half of what Finding Nemo grossed in its lifetime. The studio's had a rough run in its post-Toy Story 3 span — can Monsters Inc. and Finding Nemo sequels make things right?

Next week's predictions:

1. The Dark Knight Rises

2. The Watch

3. Ice Age: Continental Drift

4. Ted

5. The Amazing Spider-Man

SOURCE: Box Office Mojo