Tumbleweeds blew through theaters playing “The Lone Ranger” over the weekend, calling into question Johnny Depp’s star power, extending Jerry Bruckheimer’s troubled box-office run and probably leading to a write down of $100 million or more at Disney’s film studio.

Even more humiliating for Disney: “Despicable Me 2,” a relatively inexpensive cartoon from Universal — a new force in animation, the art form that Walt Disney perfected for the masses — was an immediate smash hit. “Despicable Me 2” took in about $142.1 million between Wednesday and Sunday, while “The Lone Ranger” had ticket sales of about $48.9 million over the same period.

Together they offer a striking portrait of modern Hollywood. Studios like Disney, searching for global audiences, are making fewer movies but spending more on the ones they do release. This raises the stakes to almost impossible levels; “The Lone Ranger,” which cost at least $375 million to make and market, will need to take in an estimated $800 million worldwide to break even, after accounting for revenue splits with theater owners.

“Despicable Me 2” represents Hollywood’s safety net — sequels, particularly animated ones that appeal to families looking for a guaranteed experience. The film also underscores an effort by studios not known for animation to dive into the field in a cost-effective way. Universal’s Illumination Entertainment made “Despicable Me 2” for $76 million; major Pixar and DreamWorks Animation movies can cost twice as much.