'Salt' fails to oust 'Inception' on U.S. box office

'Inception' grossed $ 43.5 million, while the spy movie of Angelina Jolie 'Salt' stayed at 36.5 million

The new spy movie of Angelina Jolie, 'Salt', has failed to snatch the crown in the U.S. film box office with 'Inception', who got a higher than expected revenues in its second weekend on the bill. Estimates indicate that 'Inception' won $ 43.5 million during the three-day weekend beginning Friday, while 'Salt' took second place with $ 36.5 million.

In the international box office, 'Inception', starring Leonardo DiCaprio, who plays a thief who steals secrets of the subconscious of people, was second with $ 56.7 million from 38 countries, behind 'Toy Story 3' , who won 62 million dollars in their projections in 43 countries.

The experts felt that 'Salt' would raise 40 million dollars, although the distributor Columbia Pictures said the release was in line with their expectations.

The estimate of the first three days represents a significant drop compared with $ 50 million they raised in their opening the last great films from Jolie 'Wanted' and 'Mr and Mrs Smith'. Jolie won $ 20 million for 'Salt', a thriller about Russian spies who are preparing to kneel to the U.S.. The paper was originally planned for Tom Cruise, who in turn made 'Knight and Day'.

With a relatively modest cost of production of 100 million dollars, 'Salt' was directed by Australian Phillip Noyce and is co-starring Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ojiofor. 'Salt' could get most of their earnings outside the United States and Canada. The film had a promising initial recovery in India and Taiwan, according to Columbia, and next weekend will be released in Japan, Russia, South Korea and Brazil.