Inception racks up 2nd week at #1 with $43.5 million

Inception barely fell 30% from its premiere weekend,* adding nearly $44 million for an estimated domestic total of $144 mil in just 10 days. Angelina Jolie followed close behind with an estimated $36.5 million for Salt.

Next week the only remotely conceivable threat to a three-peat might come from Dinner for Schmucks. Steve Carrell’s previous best opening was $38 million for Get Smart, but that was a weak June weekend in 2008 when the only competition was The Love Guru.

*(In comparison, Toy Story 3 dropped 46% in week 2, Twilight: Eclipse fell 51%, and Iron Man 2 took a 59% dive its second week. Avatar crossed the $150 million mark in 8 days.)

[UPDATE: The LATimes is now pegging Inception’s 2nd week dip at 31% — and notes that this represents the smallest decline of any movie this year. And Deadline reports Warners passing the billion dollar mark this weekend, setting an industry record for performing the same feat 10 years in a row.]