The big-budget family film easily beat the bigger-budgeted action movie at the domestic box office, as Fox’s “Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian” grossed $70 million for the four-day holiday weekend, while Warner Bros.’ “Terminator Salvation” took in $53.8 million. While it didn’t significantly outperform pre-release tracking or come remotely close to the blockbusters that Memorial Day weekend has seen for the last few years, “Museum” pulled in a healthy haul for a film budgeted at about $125 million. It could go on to a very big total, given that family movies tend to hold well and the original “Museum” ultimately grossed more than eight times its opening weekend. However it does have one very big challenge: Disney and Pixar’s “Up,” which opens Friday and is going after the same audience. After a decent start Thursday, “Terminator Salvation” quickly fizzled, indicating weak audience word of mouth. Its four-day total was $53.8 million, and its total gross since Thursday is $67.2 million. That’s less than what studio executives had expected based on tracking and a relatively weak start for the $200-million blockbuster, which was financed by The Halcyon Co. and is being distributed by Warner Bros. domestically and Sony overseas. – From LA Times

Three new movies. Three similar results: so-so. First, the big boys. Terminator Salvation, continuing the adventures of John Conner (sans Arnold), gets the big budget, action treatment. The four day weekend will probably net around $60-65 million. Watch for strong attendance from the guys, but it doesn’t look like a chick flick. Next comes Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. Ben Stiller returns, and this film will rake with the families. We predict it will take the crown, with $80-85 million. The only other wide release is the Wayans Brothers Dance Flick spoof film. The trailer is actually has some funny moments. Watch for $15-20 million. Star Trek and Angels & Demons should do good business as well – $25 millionish a piece.

New this week:

Terminator Salvation
The early look of this was pretty encouraging. But reviews have confirmed the fears we had – the film is humorless and too mechanical (no pun intended) for it’s own good. As much as everyone loves to point at Dark Knight, films this grim looking don’t get a lot of people excited. We blame the director, McG. Why? That stupid friggin’ name. What professional film director goes by the name McG? We digress. Sorry.

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
The first Museum film snuck up on people and turned out to a be a big hit, despite it’s many pitfalls (some shoddy effects, some uninspired performances, some silly sequences). But the film brought in lots of families, and the new one should do the same. Reviews have been so-so, but most point out it’s bigger, better and funnier than the original.

Dance Flick
These spoof movies are usually shit. But at least the Wayans Brothers have some history of doing some decent work (as well as a lot of crap). This won’t be the worst of the genre ever made – but not the best.

The new Terminator film is getting it’s fair share of abuse from critics. Most (but not all) are giving it the ‘dour’ and ‘humorless’ treatment.

Every summer movie season must have its share of clanging heavy metal, and fitting the bill this year is the awkwardly titled Terminator Salvation, which has enough exploding robots, aircraft and artillery to tide us over until Transformers 2 arrives. Neither bland enough to ignore nor noteworthy enough to remember, the movie occupies that crowded middle ground of serviceable sequels that send you home feeling, if not exactly burned, then certainly unsatisfied. This is the most dour and humorless of the four Terminator pictures — I don’t think there’s a single moment of comic relief in the whole two hours — and the serious tone weighs down the film. Sure, those Terminator motorcycles are way cool, and the Godzilla-sized Terminator is even cooler. (The noises it makes are pure movie-geek heaven — the neatest movie sound effect since the bombs that went ke-raaang! during the asteroid-belt sequence in Attack of the Clones.) – From Miami Herald

He said he’ll be back – but who knew the best of ’80s action flicks would come with him? “He” is Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose CGI-created face turns up on a new body in a crucial battle in “Terminator Salvation,” a fast-moving, rock ‘em-sock ‘em movie that continues the man-vs.-machines series begun 25 years ago. Between this and “Star Trek,” popcorn-movie reboots have hit high gear. The last entry, 2003’s “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines,” was the Governator’s final starring role, and it ended with reluctant messiah John Connor and his girlfriend Kate in a fallout shelter as the sentient computer Skynet launched nuclear attacks. From NY Daily News

Both warning and advertisement, the Terminator films are technophobic teases, selling tickets by promising this decade’s new model of killing machine: the classic V8 1984 Schwarzenegger; the streamlined, liquid-metal ‘91 Robert Patrick of T2: Judgment Day; Kristanna Loken’s 2003 T-X (with burgundy pleather upholstery) in T3: Rise of the Machines. Terminator Salvation, a departure in many ways, is the first Terminator with no upgrade. The hardware is clanky and runs on diesel. Schwarzenegger is present only as a CGI mask. The franchise’s creation myth—the toppling of humanity by Skynet computers—has finally come to pass by 2018. Christian Bale’s John Connor is a maverick officer in the human Resistance. Sam Worthington’s Marcus Wright, last he remembers, donated his body to Cyberdyne before a lethal injection. He wakes to a blasted world, carrying a plot twist familiar to anyone who knows her Philip K. Dick. – From City Pages

The first reader reviews of McG’s Termiantor Salvation and Disney’s return to hand drawn animation, The Princess and The Frog have shown up online. Gandalf The Grey over on AICN says that he went in with low expectations but “actually came out of the cinema quite uplifted and hopeful.” He admits that the film “isn’t as convincingly done as the Batman reboot” but its “a good beginning for this storyline.” He called Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “brief” cameo “a cool moment”, and mentioned Danny Elfman’s score was “too loud and big for the movie.” – From Slash Film

50 new photos are available of Terminator Salvation – not to mention the bitching new trailer below. Enjoy.

Terminator Salvation director McG doesn’t blame Christian Bale for his blow up last summer – saying the set is a passionate place and things happen. Of course, McG should take on some of the responsibility – we know it’s only 4 minutes of audio – but a director shouldn’t let his film set descend into such chaos.

McG also addressed rumors of a possible Arnold Schwarzenegger cameo in the new Terminator film. The director revealed to the audience that they were working on a revolutionary technique for “doing something with that” and that he wasn’t sure if it would even work.

Everyone is onboard for Sex & the City II.

Take a look at some more Transformers 2 toys – The Fallen and Wheelie. You excited!

Joss Whedon’s new TV show, the Dollhouse, debuts Friday, and reviews coming out are decidedly mixed. Most people are saying that the show will need some time to gain an audience. Also, several are noting that the show’s premise may cause some issues since the main character, Eliza Dushku, will essentially become a new character each show. Critics are wondering if viewers are going to want to ’start new’ each week. Given Whedon’s track record (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Serenity), we’ll certainly give it time – but will your normal viewer and the network.

- from AICN