Avatar smashes box office records again

Dec 28, 2009 9:24 AM by Vicki Salemi

Posted in Entertainment / Movies & Reviews

Big Box Office Bucks Abound

Avatar ruled the box office, but the James Cameron film was far from alone -- Sherlock Holmes, the Squeakquel and It's Complicated each earned big box office bucks.

During the holiday weekend, if receipts are any indication, Americans across the country ran to catch various juggernauts on the big screen. Avatar would be one of them. James Cameron's 3D flick led the pack as total revenues. Thus far, Avatar has earned an estimated $280 million globally already. Avatar's international $260 million box office earnings topped the previous record holder, The Dark Knight in July 2008.

In addition, the holiday weekend at the box office smashed another record since domestic ticket sales for 2009 surpassed the $10 billion mark (yes, as in billions) for the first time in history. Attendance in movie theaters is up more than five percent in the past.

As for other flicks, Sherlock Holmes came in second place and opened to $65.4 million as Robert Downey, Jr and Jude Law broke a record as the top opening for a Christmas weekend. As for the record they surpassed? Meet the Fockers at $46.2 million a few years ago.

Not to be overlooked of course are those perky chipmunks as Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, earned $77.1 million the past five days since it opened. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel's weekend opening surpassed its first Alvin flick two years ago by approximately six million bucks.

As for the chick flick, Meryl Streep's It's Complicated came in numero four and grossed $22.1 million.

Not to be overlooked of course is George Clooney's film, Up in the Air as well as the musical Nine. Surprisingly, despite its hype, the film starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, and Kate Hudson, came in ninth.

Box office top 10:

1. Avatar ($75 million)
2. Sherlock Holmes ($65.4 million)
3. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel ($50.20 million)
4. It's Complicated ($22.1 million)
5. Up in the Air ($11.8 million)
6. The Blind Side ($11.3 million)
7. The Princess and the Frog ($8.6 million)
8. Nine ($5.4 million)
9. Invictus ($4.4 million)
10. The Twilight Saga: New Moon ($3 million)