BOX OFFICE REPORT (JULY 26-28): 'The Wolverine' Slices Up Weekend But Can't Match Previous 'X-Men' Openings

The Wolverine led this past weekend with a $55 million opening, which wouldn't be bad for a normal movie but is actually a sub-par opening for an installment of the X-Men franchise. There are some sites out there declaring that we're witnessing the end of the Age of Superhero Movies. Is $55 million disappointing for The Wolverine? Yes. And did Man of Steel kind of fizzle out, leaving the Superman reboot short of crossing $300 million? Yup. Is this the end of the Age of Superhero Movies? Nope.

Anyone trying to sell you that story is conveniently ignoring the fact that the summer movie season was kicked off by Iron Man 3's $174.14 million opening weekend. So far, Iron Man 3 has grossed $407.24 million domestically, which ranks it No. 14 all-time in North America. Let's see how tired people are of superheroes after 2015 brings us Avengers: Age of Ultron, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and X-Men: Days of Future Past. If those movies all flop, we'll give this story some consideration.

1. The Wolverine (N)
Weekend gross: $55.00 million / Total domestic gross: $55.00 million / Percent change: NA
So yeah, The Wolverine's $55 million ranks as the worst opening weekend of the six movies in the X-Men franchise, trailing the original X-Men's $51.1 million. While X-Men Origins: Wolverine raked in $85.09 during its opening weekend in 2009, that movie left a sour taste in a lot of moviegoers' mouths. Let's blame that turd for The Wolverine's meh opening weekend.

2. The Conjuring (1)

Weekend gross: $22.13 million / Total domestic gross: $83.87 million / Percent change: -47.1
Looks like The Conjuring will cross the $100 million mark. Not bad for a movie that cost only $20 million to make.

3. Despicable Me 2 (2)

Weekend gross: $16.02 million / Total domestic gross: $306.41 million / Percent change: -35.7
In just three weekends, Despicable Me 2 has quickly become the second-highest-grossing movie of 2013, with only Iron Man 3 ahead of it. Despicable Me 2 also becomes the second 2013 movie to pass $300 million, and (for now) it looks like it'll stay that way for awhile. With Man of Steel and Monsters University faltering, we're probably going to have to wait for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire in November for another movie with $300 million potential.

4. Turbo (3)

Weekend gross: $13.33 million / Total domestic gross: $55.77 million / Percent change: -37.5
In some states, it's actually a crime to take your children to this movie.

5. Grown Ups 2 (4)

Weekend gross: $11.50 million / Total domestic gross: $101.66 million / Percent change: -42.1

Has anyone been able to pin Chris Farley's death on Kevin James? Because if Farley were still alive, James wouldn't have a career.

Next week's predictions

1. The Smurfs 2

2. The Wolverine

3. Despicable Me 2

4. 2 Guns

5. The Conjuring

SOURCE: Box Office Mojo