Reoccurring dreams are usually nightmares, but not so for Warner Bros. and “Inception,” which dreamed a blissful little dream, as the film topped the domestic box office for the second weekend in a row, snatching $43.5 million. Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi actioner has now grossed $143 million in ten days of release, and is one of the most critically acclaimed blockbuster films, of not just this summer, but of all-time. On the international front, the sci-fi actioner stole $56 million this weekend, for an early total of $84 million.

In second place, Angelina Jolie proved once again that she is a special effect unto herself, as Sony’s topical Russian spy thriller earned $36.5 million in its debut. On the corner of testosterone and estrogen, Jolie stands alone as the only female actress whose name can open a film in the action genre. Previously, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” and “Wanted” both opened with $50 million, while the original “Tomb Raider” bowed to $47 million. Can we just give her the Lasso of Truth and the Invisible Jet, already? No one would make a better Wonder Woman. No one. She is Amazon, hear her roar!

“Despicable Me” eased just 26% in its third weekend, finishing third and grossing another $24.1 million. The Universal toon has now grossed $161 million and with no animated films on the horizon in August, expect the minions to keep the masses occupied until fall. This is not only the surprise hit of the summer, but also a gift that will keep on giving for the studio, which has already announced that a sequel is in the works.

“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” finished fourth in its second weekend, conjuring up $9.6 million, for a total of $42 million. The Nic Cage starrer dropped 45%, which for a supposed family film, is not exactly promising for Walt Disney. This will go down as a domestic disappointment for the Mouse House, which spent an estimated $150 million on the Jerry Bruckheimer produced film.

In fifth place, the summer’s top film, “Toy Story 3,” held up remarkably, earning an additional $9 million in its sixth weekend of release. With just a 25% decline from last weekend, Woody and Buzz have now amassed a remarkable $379 million. In foreign shops, the threequel was on top of the charts for the first time, as Disney widened its net, and caught $62 million. International total is now $351 million and $730 million worldwide.

Opening in sixth place, Fox’s “Ramona and Beezus” grossed $8 million. The film, based on the hit series of children’s books from Beverly Cleary, was budgeted at a tidy $15 million, so, odds are, they will see a small profit from the film.

Focus Features’ “The Kids are All Right” had the best theatre average in the Top 12 at $13,173 per, as the lesbian dramedy finished in eleventh place in 201 theatres, grossing $2.6 million. With nearly $5 million in the bank, and showing no signs of fatigue in its third week of release, it looks like this flick from director Lisa Cholodenko will go down as the indie hit of the summer, edging out Fox Searchlight’s “Cyrus” which hit a wall last week when expanded into moderate wide release. Six weeks in theatres, “Cyrus” has earned $6.3 million.

In limited release, Magnolia’s documentary on the present-day state of nuclear warheads burst onto the scene with $41,000 from just three theatres in New York and D.C., while Arthouse Films “Jean-Michael Basquiat: The Radiant Child” had the best theatre average in release with $18,000+ from one theatre in New York.

Next weekend, a trio of new releases will contend for the top spot, although "Inception" will likely threepeat. Warner Bros. “Cats and Dogs 2” will be unleased in the most theatres (3,700+) and will also lift its leg in woof-tacular 3-D, so expect decent numbers for the sequel. The original, which was released almost a decade ago, clawed up $21 million on its way to $93 million. Expect an doggone good debut of $25 million for the kiddie friendly caper. Paramount releases “Dinner For Schmucks” in a surprisingly low 2,500 theatres, but as evidenced from “Grown Ups” staying power, its quite obvious that comedy is a much needed commodity in the marketplace. Expect the Steve Carrel/Paul Rudd flick to finish with $21 million, and have a very strong hold over the next few weeks. Lastly, Zac Ephron goes for a Hallmark Moment, as he headlines the weepy drama “Charlie St. Cloud.” In 2,500+ theatres, the Universal film will need plenty of young girls crying to top $10 million.