The Amazing Spider-Man topped the box office in its first weekend with $65 million after debuting the previous Tuesday (July 3rd), taking in $140 million domestically since then. The success of the film disproved some criticism that it was too soon for a relaunch of the superhero franchise, just five years afterSpider-Man 3, the last film in the series that began in 2002 and starred Tobey Maguire as the web-slinger.Andrew Garfield takes over the starring role in the new 3-D film, which follows orphan Peter Parker in high school as he turns into a crime-fighting superhero after a bite from a mutant spider. Co-starring as his love interest, Gwen Stacy, is Emma Stone, Parker’s real-life girlfriend. Rhys Ifans, Sally Field and Martin Sheen also co-star.
- Last week’s top movie, Ted, fell to second-place.
Debuting at Number Four was director Oliver Stone’s Savages, about two pot-growing friends who get into a bloody war with a Mexican drug cartel that kidnaps their shared girlfriend as it tries to muscle into their business. Starring are Salma Hayek, John Travolta, Benicio Del Toro, Blake Lively, Taylor Kitsch andAaron Johnson.
- Opening in a disappointing eighth place was Katy Perry: Part of Me, a combination concert film and backstage documentary about the pop star.
- Director Woody Allen’s ensemble romance, To Rome with Love, finished in 10th place after expanding to wide release following two weeks in just a handful of theaters.
THIS WEEKEND’S TOP TEN MOVIES — JULY 6-8
- The Amazing Spider-Man, $65 million
- Ted, $32.6 million
- Brave, $20.2 million
- Savages, $16.2 million
- Magic Mike, $15.6 million
- Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection, $10.2 million
- Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, $7.7 million
- Katy Perry: Part of Me, $7.2 million
- Moonrise Kingdom, $4.6 million
- To Rome with Love, $3.5 million