'Inception' makes dream debut

So what if ``Inception'' is incomprehensible? The costly sci-fi thriller opened at No1 at the weekend box office in North America on Sunday, pulling in $60.4 million (Dh222m) from moviegoers happy to be vexed by one of the few big original pictures of the summer, according to estimates issued by distributor Warner Brothers Pictures.

The movie, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as a thief who steals secrets from deep within people's subconscious, was directed by Christopher Nolan, the British filmmaker responsible for the last two ``Batman'' movies.

Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc partnered on the $160m project with studio-based financier Legendary Pictures, and they spent more than $100m on the marketing. Pundits had forecast an opening in the $50m to $60m range.

Critics heaped praise on the movie, even if many of them were not exactly sure what it was about, or advised that it might require multiple viewings.

In a caustic review, the Wall Street Journal suggested ''Inception'' was ``impervious to criticism, simply because no one short of a NASA systems analyst will be able to articulate the plot".

The weekend's other big new release failed to whip up much magic: ``The Sorcerer's Apprentice'' came in at No3 with just $17.4m. After getting a two-day head start by opening on Wednesday, the Walt Disney Co live-action release has earned $24.5m to date. Pundits had forecast a $30m haul for the first five days.

The Nicolas Cage fantasy reportedly cost about $150m to make, though Disney never confirms budgets. Critics ripped the movie, and there was reportedly little pre-opening awareness among moviegoers.

Last weekend's champion, the family cartoon ``Despicable Me,'' slipped to No2, but sales data were not immediately available from its distributor, General Electric Co’s Universal Pictures.