Despite being trashed by the critics, Transformer: Revenge of the Fallen led at the U.S box office for the second weekend in a row.

With its strong complement of Christian themes and images, the Transformers sequel edged out the premiere weekend performance of the animated comedy entry Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, the third in that series, $42.3 million to $41.7 million.

Indicating that Christian themes, likable characters, and stories depicting people with a positive purpose outweigh critics’ cavils, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen continued to draw well from all audience segments and shows signs it will sustain its ability to garner good numbers, according to a studio source.

–S. T. Karnick