After three entries, the "Ice Age" franchise has shown some audience erosion, but Ice Age: Continental Drift still claimed the top spot this weekend while The Amazing Spider-Man held well in second.
The popular gang of prehistoric animals returned to theaters for a fourth time in Ice Age: Continental Drift, which sailed to the top spot with $46.6 million. This is about equal to the first Ice Age back in 2002, but noticeable down from the starts of the other two installments, which grossed $68 million and $66.7 million respectively. 
However, this franchise has become little about the North American box office, rising to one of the most puzzling overseas smashes in recent memory. So far “Continental Drift” has amassed $385.6 million globally (88 percent of which has come from international markets). Even if it becomes the lowest grossing of the franchise Stateside, expect another entry in this lucrative series for Fox.
Staving off of frontloading thanks to its mid-week launch, The Amazing Spider-Man fell by 44 percent and has upped its domestic total to $200.5 million and a huge $521 million worldwide.
Generally, audiences are responding well to this reboot (especially younger viewers who didn’t grow up with the original trilogy). Expect its foothold to slip next week, however, as it becomes all about The Dark Knight Rises all the time.
The Top 10
1. Ice Age: Continental Drift - $46.6M (weekend)…$46.6M (gross)
2. The Amazing Spider-Man - $34.6M…$200.5M
3. Ted - $22.4M…$159.3M
4. Brave - $11.2M…$196.1M
5. Savages - $9.4M…$32.1M
6. Magic Mike - $9.0M…$91.8M
7. Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection - $5.6M…$55.6M
8. Katy Perry: Part of Me - $3.8M…$18.7M
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Still beating the stuffing out of the competition, comedy smash Ted fell by under a third to $22.6 million in its third week and has now grossed a huge $159.4 million, with more than $200-million domestic looking all but a lock. Seth Macfarlane’s comedy is also playing extremely well abroad and has collected a huge $13.4 million in Austrailia, which is means it's currently poised to be the second biggest movie of the year there behind The Avengers.
After a solid debut last weekend, Oliver Stone’s Savages held better than expected considering the meager word of mouth and has now made off with $32.6 million. Even with its lack of buzz, it’s clear a lack of films aimed at adults is propelling the thriller higher than it otherwise would.
Next weekend the event film of the year arrives, as The Dark Knight Rises assaults multiplexes in what should be a record number of theaters (breaking the ultra-wide 4,458-theater debut of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse). Don’t count on this three-quel to beat The Avengers’ $207.4 million start due to the lack of 3D surcharges, but a launch north of $190 million should be expected, and a midnight showing record could be in the cards.
