Box office estimates for the weekend of July 30 - August 2. Rank. Movie Title – Weekend Gross | Theaters | Total Gross | Week #

1. Inception - $27,520,000 I 3,545 I $193,348,000 I 3 complete Inception coverage

2. Dinner for Schmucks - $23,300,000 I 2,911 I $23,300,000 I 1 complete Schmucks coverage

3. Salt - $19,250,000 I 3,612 I $70,800,000 I 2 complete Salt coverage

4. Despicable Me - $15,543,000 I 3,602 I $190,349,000 I 4 complete Despicable coverage

5. Cats & Dogs: the Revenge of Kitty Galore - $12,525,000 I 3,705 I $12,525,000 I 1

source: www.boxofficemojo.com

It was a bleak week for the newcomers this weekend. I mean, sure, it seemed unlikely that anybody would topple Inception even if they were gunning for number one.

Dinner for Schmucks just proved the box office bankability of Paul Rudd and Steve Carell. Well, not so much proved as re-affirmed, but you get the idea. Despite being shown in the fewest theaters of the top five, it still managed to snag number two.

Salt surprised by only slipping to number three. Judging from the reviews and the terrible dye job of Jolie, I wasn’t expecting this one to stick around for too long, but I’ll admit when I’m wrong. Let’s see if it has what it takes to remain in the top five next weekend.

Steve Carell’s second movie in the top five this weekend, Despicable Me seems to be delighting both kids and adults. It doesn’t hurt that it’s playing in 3D, but there’s got to be some charm to it if it’s lasted this long.

Finally, our second newcomer of the week, which looks pretty abysmal if I do say so myself, only managed to climb to number five. It seems 3D and being a kid’s movie (meaning children’s tickets as well as an adult, which never hurts ticket sales) couldn’t save this one. It’s doubtful that this cat has nine lives so I wouldn’t expect it to stick around in the top five even until next weekend.