Moviegoers openly embraced the end of the world as the disaster film 2012 [2012S] swept up an estimated $65 million in its debut. Roland Emmerich [REMME] delivered the digital mayhem audiences have come to expect from the director of Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow. The Sony film tapped into people's fascination with apocalyptic prophecies tied to the Mayan calendar.
A Christmas Carol [CAROL] enjoyed a strong hold, tailing off just 26% from its opening weekend. The CG animated film tallied $22.3 million to bring its 10-day total to $63.3 million.
The Men Who Stared at Goats [MGOAT] suffered a steeper 51% drop from its debut. The George Clooney comedy finished third with $6.2 million.
Playing in just 174 theaters, Precious [PRCUS] leaped into fourth place in its seond weekend with $6.1 million. The Lionsgate drama starring Mo'Nique [MNIQU] is expected to rollout wide this upcoming weekend.
The Britich comedy Pirate Radio [PRADO] was weakly received, charting at number eleven with barely $2.9 million.
| Rank | TITLE | F-S-S | TOTAL |
| 1 | 2012 | $65,000,000 | $65,000,000 |
| 2 | DISNEY'S A CHRISTMAS CAROL | $22,325,000 | $63,289,000 |
| 3 | THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS | $6,200,000 | $23,376,297 |
| 4 | PRECIOUS | $6,090,000 | $8,914,552 |
| 5 | MICHAEL JACKSON'S THIS IS IT | $5,100,000 | $67,211,000 |
| 6 | THE FOURTH KIND | $4,743,750 | $20,588,045 |
| 7 | COUPLES RETREAT | $4,252,755 | $102,133,145 |
| 8 | PARANORMAL ACTIVITY | $4,200,000 | $103,847,000 |
| 9 | LAW ABIDING CITIZEN | $3,932,000 | $67,326,125 |
| 10 | THE BOX | $3,185,000 | $13,206,000 |
| 11 | PIRATE RADIO | $2,869,377 | $2,869,377 |
| 12 | WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE | $2,415,000 | $73,437,000 |
Source: Exhibitor Relations Co.
Tag(s): 2012S, REMME, CAROL, MGOAT, PRCUS, MNIQU, PRADO