WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: Bourne Ends Batman's Box Office Reign

It was a monster of a weekend for counter programming. With the box office still battling stiff competition from the London Olympics, The Dark Knight Rises threepeat reign at the top had challenges the from actioner The Bourne Legacy, the comedy The Campaign, and the cinematic safety net for senior citizens Hope Springs.

When the dust settled, Universal's gamble on a Matt Damon-less Bourne film starring Jeremy Renner was the pic that finally knocked The Caped Crusader off the streak it had enjoyed since its July 20th opening. The Bourne Legacy took in over $42 million in its debut weekend, easily sailing ahead of the Warner Bros. one-two punch of The Campaign in second place with over $27 million, and The Dark Knight Rises at number three with over $19.5 million. It's worth mentioning that TDKR is now sitting pretty with over $835M in worldwide receipts.

Sony's Total Recall reboot took a total nosedive in its sophomore week, plunging a whopping 68%, slipping from the top spot last week to number six with $8.1M in ticket sales. Not even cracking the $50M mark yet does not bode well for recouping its reported $125M price tag.

Next week brings the action all-star line ups of all line-ups, The Expendables 2. Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Jason Statham, Jean Claude Van Damme, Chuck Norris, Terry Crews, Liam Hemsworth, Jet Li, and Dolph Lundgren. I think that's just about everyone.

1. THE BOURNE LEGACY -  Weekend Gross: $40.2M
2. THE CAMPAIGN - Weekend Gross: $27.4M
3. THE DARK KNIGHT RISES - Weekend Gross: $19.5M, Total: $390.1M
4. HOPE SPRINGS - Weekend Gross: $15.6M, Total: $20M
5. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID 3 - Weekend Gross: $8.2M, Total: $30.5
6. TOTAL RECALL - Weekend Gross: $8.1M, Total: $44.1
7. ICE AGE 4  - Weekend Gross: $6.7M, Total: $144.M

8. TED - Weekend Gross: $3.3M, Total: $209.9M
9. STEP UP REVOLUTION - Weekend Gross: $2.8M, Total: $30.1M

10. THE WATCH - Weekend Gross: $2.2M, Total: $31.3

SOURCES: Box Office Mojo

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Jeremy Renner Talks Hawkeye Spin-Off & More 'Mission: Impossible'

While talking to Access Hollywood at the press junket for The Bourne Legacy, in addition to fielding questions on adding another successful franchise to his resume, the in-demand actor was asked for his reaction to phenomenal success of The Avengers, which has earned nearly $1.5 billion dollars at the worldwide box office.

"I have no control over that obviously. I have no say in why that happened," he said. "I'm happy to be a small fraction of that, and that piece of history I guess."

When it comes to much discussed possibility of a future spin-off film featuring Hawkeye (and perhaps teaming up with Scarlet Johannson's Black Widow), Renner was wide open and ready to reprise the role of the bow & arrow armed superhero, but admitted it was a decision not left entirely in his hands.

"It really doesn't matter what I think," he revealed. "It's up to Marvel, and maybe what the fans think. If they want something, I'm really interested in exploring that character more for sure."

As far as gearing up for another round in the Mission: Impossible series, where it has been rumored he would inherit the franchise from Tom Cruise, Renner would be eager and willing to continue playing Agent William Brandt.

"It's a crystal ball thing. It's up to Tom and Paramount. Again, I'm happy to do that. It's a lighter fare for me anyways and I like being a part of that."

You can check out the interview below:

SOURCE: AccessHollywood.com

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