The dream is real, alright. Yes, it was a dream debut for Christopher Nolan and Warner Bros. as “Inception” easily stole the top spot, grossing $60.4 million over the weekend. The opposite was true for Walt Disney’s “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” which failed to cast a spell on audiences, conjuring up just $17 million in third place.

“Inception” was the highest debut of Leonardo DiCaprio’s career, who is having a banner year at the box office. Earlier this spring “Shutter Island” opened with $41 million, which was his high water mark until he became a dream weaver. Audiences and critics alike have been frothing at the eyeballs (and its not even in 3-D), giving “Inception” some of the best reviews and best word-of-mouth a big-budget summer blockbuster has ever seen. Well, at least since his last effort, a little film called “The Dark Knight.”

The mind-bender wasn’t a sure thing, even though Christopher Nolan is now arguably one of a handful of directors that is a household name. Which is why Warners spent an estimated $100 million just to market this unknown commodity. Rolling out a summer tent pole that isn’t based on previously existing material (unless you count “The Matrix,” “Dark City,” and “The Thirteenth Floor”) is a huge risk for major studios, especially when marketing tie-ins are non-existent. And with a budget estimated to be over $160 million, Nolan and company needed a debut like this, and certainly is coveting the overflowing buzz. Everyone knew this film would open big, the real question is, can it hold strong next week and weeks to come, as this surely is the last true summer blockbuster of the season.

In second place, “Despicable Me” held on like a champ, dropping just 42% and masterminding another $32 million--still averaging over $9,000 per theatre. Universal’s surprise animated hit has now grossed $118 million in just ten days and as the last toon of the summer, it will have plenty of weeks to soak in the summer sun before the kiddie minions march back to school.

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has had a summer like no other. First, “Prince of Persia” failed to ignite audiences domestically (overseas the film is a hit, grossing $236 million) as it has topped out at $89 million, and now “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” buckled under the heat grossing $17 million and $24 million since its Wednesday bow. An opening of less than $20 million just isn’t acceptable for a film that cost upwards of $150 million. Between these films and last summer’s “G-Force” it’s doubtful that Walt Disney and Bruckheimer will be making movies together much longer. Although, next summer’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” sequel should quell the rising storm…for now. Also, it’s highly unlikely Jay Barachnel (one of Apatow’s Geek-chic Army enlisters) will ever sniff a lead in a film of this magnitude again as his draw obviously isn’t a factor. This may yet find an audience, as “Inception” overwhelmed media and pop culture this weekend, but it certainly won’t be considered a hit anytime soon as it opened weaker than Disney’s much stranger “Race to Witch Mountain,” which debuted with $24 million and ended up with $67 million.

In fourth place, “The Twilight Sage: Eclipse” took a hit to its box office bite, as the Summit flick fell nearly 60% in its third weekend grossing $13 million. Still, Twi-hards have the film at $264 million--the third biggest movie of the summer thus far behind “Toy Story 3” and “Iron Man 2.” Hmm. Three sequels in the top three spots? Proving once again: Once you go sequel, you never go back.

Rounding out the Top 5, summer’s #1 film, “Toy Story 3,” tacked on $11 million in its fifth weekend. Total for the Pixar toon now stands at $362 million domestic and over $225 million overseas. Looks as if Woody and Buzz are riding off into the sunset with style, on boffo box office broncos. “Yeahaa, partner…is that another sequel in my boot?”

“Predators” needs a body bag, quick. The Fox sci-fi reboot free-fell 73% in its sophomore weekend, oozing just $6.8 million. With $40 million in the bank, this certainly isn’t a huge disappointment, but a stronger hold should have materialized, given that reviews were, for the genre, up beat.

Fox Searchlight’s indie comedy, “Cyrus,” expanded into moderate wide release this weekend, showing in over 400+ theatres, yet failed to net a wider audience, dropping 22% versus last weekend, grossing just $1 million and finishing outside the Top 10. The $7 million John C. Reilly/Jonah Hill comedy has grossed $5 million so far.

The real breakout indie star is Focus Features’ “The Kids Are All Right,” which finished in the #12 slot in just 38 theatres. Averaging over $27,000 per site in its second weekend, the dramedy has now grossed $1.7 million. Look for continued success and expansion in weeks to come.

Next weekend, Sony goes for the jugular as “Salt” peppers audiences with the suddenly hot topic of Russian spies. Angelina Jolie returns as the title character, but is she enough anymore to turn an adult-themed action drama into the next big hit? “The A-Team” and “Knight & Day” have proven that adult action is much more of a niche market this summer--$26 million. Fox also opens “Ramona and Beezus” based on Beverly Cleary’s hit series of Ramona books. Appealing to young girls will take you only so far at the box office, but that might be all Fox needs to construct a hit here--$12 million.