With Comic-Con hijacking all the movie tweets and headlines, and Batman still a week away from bursting through the box office, it was a perfect time for another “Ice Age,” as Fox’s family-centric fourquel easily slid into the #1 spot with $46 million.

While somewhat disappointing, the opening gross is in-line with the previous installments, and like those, it should stay the course and not hit the deep freeze until it approaches $175 million domestic.

With foreign frozen assets already exceeding $339 million—including $95.1 million this weekend—“Continental Drift,” and the “Ice Age” series as a whole, has always had a much firmer grasp on audiences internationally. The threequel, “Dawn of the Dinosaurs,” exploited that fact more than any other film in the franchise, as 77% of its total $886 million-gross coming from foreign currency.      

In second place, “The Amazing Spider-Man” is turning out to be just that—off just -44%—Sony’s successful reboot had one of the best second-weekend superhero holds of all-time and netted $35 million this weekend. The fourth Spidey film now becomes just the fifth flick of 2012 to cross $200+ million.

Overseas, the Webslinger netted $66.6 million this weekend bringing its international tally to $320 milllion. Sony’s worldwide web has now snared $521 million.

“Ted” is still the man in third place, as Universal’s sleeper comedy hit of the summer fell off just -31%, racking up another $22.1 million in its third weekend. With a soft and fuzzy total of $158.9 million, Seth MacFarlane’s first foray onto the big screen will soon surpass last summer’s breakout comedy hit, “Bridesmaids,” which went on to gross $169 million. Forget TNT, Universal knows comedy.

In fourth place with $10.7 million, “Brave” continued to stand tall—especially in the face of fierce animated competition—as Pixar’s latest passed the $191 million “Cars 2” finished with last summer, tracking down $195 million and on its way to the $200+ million promise-land sometime next week.

“Magic Mike” continued to stay hard in fifth place, as Warner’s male-bait scored another $9 million, dropping just -42% and an amazing $91.8 million in the spank bank. Or is that sperm bank. Either way, like a boss, Channing Tatum has recently announced he wants to do a sequel. Cha-ching. This would probably net Tatum more $1’s than he’s ever stuffed in his pants before…and by $1’s, of course, I’m talking about $1 millions.

“Savages” took its second hit like a boss, falling off just -45%, and toking up another $8.7 million. Good word of mouth—and frankly lack-of-competition—definitely played a part in keeping Oliver Stone’s latest afloat. Total 10-day stash is now $31.4 million. ç

Rome continues to burn, well smolder, really. Woody’s latest, “To Rome with Love,” eased just 18% as it grossed $2.5 million and now $8.5 million overall. While certainly not on pace to match last summer’s “Midnight in Paris,” this is certainly a win for Sony Classics as “Rome” has already made as much Woodman’s previous SPC releases “You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger” and “Whatever Works” combined.     

There is something to be said for not flooding the marketplace with product: Only “Madagascar 3” had a drop of more than 50% this weekend. That’s a pretty astonishing feat given the hyperactive summer release schedule in today’s market. 

Next weekend, “The Dark Knight Rises” closes out what is probably the most fanatical and phenomenal trilogy since the original “Star Wars.” Will we have two $200+ million debuts in the same summer? In 4,385 theatres—all in 2D—it will be a testament to the power of codpieces everywhere if Batman somehow breaks through that hallowed barrier. However, let’s not let the Bat-buzz override our brain cells.

Remember how when “The Dark Knight” shattered the box office record books with $158 million in the summer of 2008, it had a little something called The Heath Ledger Effect going for it. Don’t underestimate how powerful his deadly turn as Batman’s most iconic villain was. That was a game-changer. That was a huge part of why the Christopher Nolan’s “Batman Begins” debuted with $48 million and his second one with $100+ million more than that. That kind of thing doesn’t just happen because a movie is good or there is a  typical sequel bump. 

Ledger’s death was box office kindling, and it became a massive fire starter. And, let’s face it, the reality is, Bane is no Joker. That said, it’s still going to be hugely impressive if the threequel hits $175 million—just the second best debut ever. That’s all. No biggie. No reason to do the Bat-dance or anything…