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Shalimar Sahota: It's been a somewhat damaging summer for action films, with Knight and Day, The A-Team, The Losers and Jonah Hex under performing. For an original film, this is a sold opening and looks like it might actually make its budget back domestically. But compared to previous Jolie outings, it's less than the $50 million Wanted opened to, and that was R-rated, though she was co-starring with James McAvoy. It's also less than the $47 million Tomb Raider opened with nine years ago (!), though that was based on a "successful" video game franchise. I guess it could be down to not being based on anything, or maybe some people out there just don't really care if Salt is a Russian spy or not. The strong competition from Inception also suggests that people are being dragged to see something they've heard good word-of-mouth for, rather than Salt. However, it's nice to see Salt making up a trio of originality occupying the top of the box office this weekend.

Reagen Sulewski: I have to agree that the rose-colored glasses aren't warranted here. While we can often worry too much about star power, Salt was a film sold almost entirely upon that basis, and not out of character for that star's body of work. In comparison to what we've seen from Jolie in the past, this is a significant undershoot. This isn't to call it a bomb or anything, but there's definitely something here that didn't appeal to people like it should have. Granted that this hasn't been a great year in general for star power, but you don't make your name in Hollywood by turning $150 million films into $100 million films.

David Mumpower: I agree with the opinions that Salt has performed about as well as could have been reasonably hoped/expected of it. As Tom correctly pointed out, this didn't have the zing of homewrecking gossip to sell it. Instead, it was marketed as what it is, a combination of The Interpreter and The Bourne franchise, meaning that this is a new property riffing off a couple of popular/semi-popular ideas. $36 million feels like a win to me, lavish budget notwithstanding.

The New Salt Identity!

Kim Hollis: Originally, Tom Cruise was slated to star in Salt before the studio replaced him with Angelina Jolie (no, really). Do you think the film would have done better, worse or about the same with him in the lead role?

Brett Beach: It pains me to say it, but it probably would have done worse with Mr. Smiles, even with other things staying the same (Inception breaking out as it has and the real-life Russian spy ring story providing some fortuitously-timed free publicity). As we discussed when Knight and Day opened, Tom Cruise may only be one hit away from a comeback, but he has been dragged down by ridiculous baggage that just won't go away. Angelina Jolie may be a good selling point for the masses since action is her milieu but she is one of the few actors/actresses who just seem to rub me the wrong way. I can admire her craft in a film like A Mighty Heart and still not quite ever warm up to her. If/when I see Salt, it will be in spite of, not due to her.

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