"The Bourne Legacy" has finally uncovered the way to knock "The Dark Knight Rises" out of the top spot. Jeremy Renner makes it to the top of the box office again this summer ("The Avengers"), this time without a cadre of superheroes at his side. I haven't seen the new 'Bourne' film but it's definitely on my to-watch list.

From the Associated Press

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. “The Bourne Legacy,” $40.3 million ($7.8 million international). (Review by The News-Herald's Mark Meszoros: 'Bourne Legacy' solid, but feels like it’s keeping things warm for Damon)
2. “The Campaign,” $27.4 million ($2.1 million international). (Review by the AP's Michael Rechtshaffen: 'The Campaign' is flimsy political satire)
3. “The Dark Knight Rises,” $19.5 million ($34.2 million international).(Review by Meszoros: 'Dark Knight Rises' overly ambitious, but Batman end is satisfying)
4. “Hope Springs,” $15.6 million. (Review by the AP's Christy Lemire: Streep, Jones give 'Hope Springs' real punch)
5. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days,” $8.2 million ($1 million international). (Review by Rechtshaffen: Third 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' not so wimpy after all)
6. “Total Recall,” $8.1 million ($18.7 million international). (Review by Lemire: New 'Total Recall' slick, forgets to have fun)
7. “Ice Age: Continental Drift,” $6.8 million ($16.2 million international). (Meszoros review: 'Ice Age: Continental Drift' out duels Pixar's 'Brave')
8. “Ted,” $3.3 million ($20.3 million international). (Meszoros review: McFarlane's 'Ted' has raunchy 'Family' appeal but also heart)
9. “Step Up: Revolution,” $2.9 million.(Review by Scripps Howard's Sara Bauknecht: 'Step Up: Revolution' has moves, not story)
10. “The Amazing Spider-Man,” $2.2 million ($3 million international). (Meszoros review: 'Amazing Spider-Man' feels unnecessary but still succeeds)

— Nicole Franz | NiFranz@News-Herald.com | @FranzOrFoe

"The Amazing Spider-Man" experienced a pretty big financial drop from last weekend's box office to this weekend's box office. It'll be interesting to see how it fares next weekend when "The Dark Knight Rises" is in theaters.

From The Associated Press:

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday:
1. "Ice Age: Continental Drift," $46 million ($95 million internationally) (Review by The News-Herald's Mark Meszoros)
2. "The Amazing Spider-Man," $35 million ($66.6 million internationally). (Review by Meszoros)
3. "Ted," $22.1 million, ($9.7 million internationally). (Review by Meszoros)
4. "Brave," $10.7 million, ($6.5 million internationally). Review by Meszoros; Cast, director talk about Pixar's 'Brave' and its animated take on Scotland by The AP's David Germain)
5. "Magic Mike," $9 million, ($3.3 million internationally). (Review by The AP's Christy Lemire)
6. "Savages," $8.7 million, ($1 million internationally). (Review by Meszoros)
7. "Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection," $5.6 million.
8. "Katy Perry: Part of Me," $3.7 million, ($1 million internationally). (Review by The AP's Jake Coyle)
9. "Moonrise Kingdom," $3.7 million, ($270,000 internationally). (Review by Lemire)
10. "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted," $3.5 million ($4.6 million internationally). (Review by Germain)

Speaking of "The Dark Knight Rises," have you heard about what's coming this week to News-Herald.com?

A 'Dark Knight' night
News-Herald Entertainment Editor Mark Meszoros and Sports Editor Mark Podolski are celebrating the end of director Christopher Nolan’s trilogy of Batman films with a bang by attending a marathon of all three films -- “Batman Begins,” “The Dark Knight” and “The Dark Knight Rises” July 19 at Atlas Cinemas Great Lakes Stadium 16 in Mentor.
The night begins at 6:30 with “Begins” and ends with the midnight debut of “Rises.” Meszoros and Podolski will chronicle the experience right here on The News-Herald’s Tuned in to Pop Culture blog, as well as in the paper’s July 22 print edition. They will be tweeting using the hashtag #BatmanMarathon.
For tickets to the Atlas marathon, which are $19, visit www.atlascinemas.net. Some area Regal Cinemas locations are also hosting marathons. Details: http://tinyurl.com/cy5v448.

More Batman
Meszoros and Podolski also will record a special “Dark Knight Rises”-centric “Tuned in to Pop Culture” podcast with Chris Lambert, who writes the blog Comics: Don’t Get Me Started. Look for the podcast right here on the Tuned in to Pop Culture blog on Tuesday afternoon. Also, Meszoros will review “The Dark Knight Rises” July 20 in The News-Herald and at www.News-Herald.com/Life.

-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

The second of this summer's three superhero blockbusters ends its first weekend at the box office in first place -- which shouldn't be much of a surprise. If you haven't yet seen the movie, preview it with our podcast on anticipating "The Amazing Spider-Man" before heading to theaters.

From The Associated Press:

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. “The Amazing Spider-Man,” $65 million ($129.1 million international). (Review by The News-Herald's Mark Meszoros)
2. “Ted,” $32.6 million ($15 million international). (Review by Meszoros)
3. “Brave,” $20.2 million ($4.2 million international). (Review by Meszoros; Cast, director talk about Pixar's 'Brave' and its animated take on Scotland by The AP's David Germain)
4. “Savages,” $16.2 million. (Review by Meszoros)
5. “Magic Mike,” $15.6 million. (Review by The AP's Christy Lemire)
6. “Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection,” $10.2 million.
7. “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted,” $7.7 million ($6.4 million international). (Review by Germain)
8. “Katy Perry: Part of Me,” $7.2 million ($2.3 million international). (Review by The AP's Jake Coyle)
9. “Moonrise Kingdom,” $4.6 million ($300,000 international). (Review by Lemire)
10. “To Rome with Love,” $3.5 million ($2.4 million international). (Review by Germain)

-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

Are you ready for Spider-Man 2.0? It’s been only five years since “Spider-Man 3,” but Hollywood is already hitting the reset button with “The Amazing Spider-Man,” swinging into theaters July 3.

New stars. New director. New origin?

Entertainment Editor Mark Meszoros (@NHFeatures), Sports Editor and superhero nut Mark Podolski (@MPodo) and Chris Lambert, who writes the News-Herald Community Media Lab blog Comics: Don’t Get Me Started, talk the movie and Spidey’s legacy in the world of comic books.

Warner Bros. Pictures

Hey, no pressure, Bats, but this summer ultimately being 

a winner or loser depends on you and "The Dark Knight Rises."

No, the calendar says it's not actually summer yet. And yet we're probably about halfway into what we consider the summer movie season.

Many of the movies I wrote about in April have arrived in theaters, and I've seen most of them, with apologies to "Men in Black III," "The Dictator" and "Dark Shadows." (Um, it's not you, it's me?)

So far, the summer's been .... good. Not great, but by no means bad. As you would hope, "Marvel's The Avengers" and "Prometheus" -- in which director Ridley Scott ventures back to his "Alien" universe -- have been the best of the bunch. Neither movie was everything I hoped it would be, but each is entertaining enough to get a solid recommendation.

I gave the same rating -- three stars out of four -- to "Battleship," easily the pleasant surprise of the season. A summer needs that really fun bad movie," and "Battleship" was this summer's.

My disappoints so far have come in "Snow White and the Huntsman" and "Rock of Ages." I expected neither to be outstanding, but I thought each had a lot more potential than it showed.

This week brings two more potential goodies: Pixar Animation Studio's "Brave" and "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter." I saw the former Monday night and am returning to the same Northeast Ohio theater tonight to view the latter. I would tell you what I thought of "Brave," but then Abraham Lincoln would have to kill you. (In truth, I'm restricted from saying much until the movies open, so check www.News-Herald.com/Life on Friday morning for my reviews.)

There are a few potential gems to come. I'm inexplicably excited for the "Bourne" movie sans Matt Damon (whom I like), "The Bourne Legacy" (Aug. 3). Of course, the resetting of Spider-Man in "The Amazing Spider-Man" will be a must-see. And, if you know me, you know I wouldn't miss "The Dark Knight Rises" for a real-life version of Batman's utility belt. (OK, well, maybe.)

If "Rises" is anywhere near as good as its predecessor -- I gave "The Dark Knight" four stars -- and brings director Christopher Nolan's trilogy to a satisfying end, consider the summer a smashing success. 

-- Mark Meszoros | Entertainment@News-Herald.com | @nhfeatures

Next week kicks off the summer movie season, and we are more than ready for it. You can get ready for it, too, by listening to our podcast on what's hitting theaters in the next few months.

If you want more summer movies, check out our podcast previewing "The Avengers."

Follow us on Twitter: @nhcheryl, @nhfeatures and @mpodo.