Wiki News/Inception Box Office Four-Peat Expected

Inception box office has defied predictions for two weeks straight. The Inception box office was higher than expected on opening weekend, then box office numbers had a very modest drop off, to hold off newcomer Salt.

After all that, no one will be surprised at what it does next, and how long it keeps luring audiences back to dream again. As such, there's not much suspense for this weekend, as predictions are mostly the same. Inception box office numbers are now expected to rule the charts for a third straight week, despite three new competitors.

On opening weekend for the movie, everyone was divided by how much Inception could make, and whether it could find a willing audience. Last weekend, everyone wondered if it could hold off Salt, and if audiences would go back multiple times. With those questions answered in the movie's favor, Inception box office is now in cruise control.

Virtually everyone expects a three-peat victory, and another mere 30 percent drop-off like last week. This would give it around $30 million more, and put it right on the doorstep of $200 million overall. After Wednesday, the film is up to $160.5 million, with another $5 million likely from Thursday.

Despite the new Inception box office challengers, there isn't much expected from them. Dinner for Schmucks is the big comedy opening of the week, as Steve Carell and Paul Rudd try to balance out Inception's darkness. But decidedly mixed word of mouth has made it a big question mark, as estimates have it in the mere $20 million range.

Seemingly, the biggest challenge to Inception box office would come from the Cats & Dogs sequel, a 3-D family movie opening in 3,700+ theaters. Yet, it has not been tracking well, with the expected bad reviews and 3-D fatigue setting in. After the big success of Toy Story 3 and Despicable Me, families might have higher standards at the moment.

And iCarly: The Movie opening in 4,000+ theaters is the only hope that it will make more money than Inception this weekend. Thanks to it's midnight showings of $4 million, Inception says goodbye to it's third frame where's iCarly will take the lead.

The weekend also tests Zac Efron's box office power outside of Disney, as Charlie St. Cloud opens. But it is expected to fight with Cats & Dogs at the bottom of the top 5. Meanwhile, Salt may battle Dinner For Schmucks for second, yet fall short of the top again.