Moviegoers went to the theaters in record numbers this holiday weekend as three films grossed over $50 million for the first time to total up sales for all films at an estimated $275 million. The previous biggest was $260 million led by the opening of The Dark Knight during the third weekend of July 2008. After last week's monster opening, Avatar [AVATR] declined a scant 3% to an estimated $75.0 million to stay in first place. Phenomenal word of mouth on the Sci-Fi spectacle has already advanced the gross to $212 million after 10 days.
Sherlock Holmes [SHOLM] deduced $65.4 million to finish second with the biggest December opener of all times. The detective thriller has been warmly received by both critics and audiences which should bode well for its box office legs. Warner Bros. had put a sequel [HOLM2] in motion months ago.
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel [ALVN2] gathered $50.2 million for the third spot. Since opening on Wednesday, the CG critters have sang to the tune of $77 million.
It's Complicated [CMPLC] unraveled $22.1 million to open in fourth place. Up in the Air [UPAIR] landed at the fifth spot with $11.8 million, while Nine [NINE] charted eighth overall at $5.5 million.
| Rank | TITLE | F-S-S | TOTAL |
| 1 | AVATAR | $75,000,000 | $212,268,053 |
| 2 | SHERLOCK HOLMES | $65,380,000 | $65,380,000 |
| 3 | ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE SQUEAKQUEL | $50,200,000 | $77,051,277 |
| 4 | IT'S COMPLICATED | $22,114,420 | $22,114,420 |
| 5 | UP IN THE AIR | $11,755,000 | $24,518,000 |
| 6 | THE BLIND SIDE | $11,730,000 | $184,387,000 |
| 7 | THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG | $8,683,000 | $63,357,000 |
| 8 | NINE | $5,544,000 | $5,922,000 |
| 9 | DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS? | $5,000,000 | $15,597,000 |
| 10 | INVICTUS | $4,390,000 | $23,365,000 |
| 11 | THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON | $3,000,000 | $280,923,522 |
| 12 | DISNEY'S A CHRISTMAS CAROL | $1,356,000 | $135,952,000 |
Source: Exhibitor Relations Co.
Tag(s): AVATR, SHOLM, HOLM2, ALVN2, CMPLC, UPAIR, NINE