The numbers are in, and “Shrek the Third” is the king of the box-office with an estimated $122.9 million — making it the third biggest opening ever, after “Spider-Man 3” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”.

Disney must be positively giddy with anticipation on the numbers for next weekend’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”; even if the reported three-hour running time means it can’t have as many screenings per day as the 93-minute “Shrek” sequel, it’s still poised to make a bundle.

This is not a comment on “Pirates”, which I won’t be seeing until Wednesday but to which I am quite looking forward, but I’m already tired of the summer season, where disappointing or even downright bad movies make loads and loads of money, and everyone goes to see them and then asks me what else is good, and I have to explain why they should bother to see “Close to Home” or “Paris Je T’Aime” or even “Hot Fuzz” in a theater instead of waiting for the DVD.

It’s not like this is anything new. It’s just a sad reminder that us critics don’t have much of an impact on the big picture — or, ironically, on the big pictures. As if “Norbit” and “Wild Hogs” didn’t make that utterly clear over the winter.

On the other hand, “Delta Farce” is tanking pretty decisively. I’d like to believe I had a hand in that.