Inception Headed for No. 1 at the Box Office This Weekend (TWX)

According to the LA Times, the new Warner Bros.

picture from Christopher Nolan, Inception, is destined to top the box office this weekend. They are expecting the movie to have an opening weekend of approximately $45 million, but that number could move drastically depending on word of mouth. Inception stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a corporate espionage agent who works in targets' dreams. It's a movie from original source material (not a sequel), and is also one of the most expensive, at $160 million. The studio made its bet, which also includes more than $100 million in advertising costs, largely due to the appeal of director Christopher Nolan. Nolan's last movie was the “The Dark Knight,” which grossed $1 billion worldwide. Nolan's small but rabid fan base, as well as avid movie goers, are expected to love the movie, making for a very strong opening day. But for “Inception” to become a certified blockbuster, the studio needs it to appeal to a much broader demographic.