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Avatar continued its record-setting pace over the weekend, easily breaking the record for the biggest third weekend for a movie (see chart) and also setting a new record for a weekend in January (see chart). Fox estimates a $68.3 million weekend, down a little under 10% from Christmas weekend. Total box office after 17 days is $352 million in the US, and an incredible $670.2 million internationally, for $1.022 billion worldwide, which will put it 4th in the all-time list of global earners by Monday (see chart). Although it's too soon to tell where it will end up in the US (beyond stating the obvious that $400 million is a formality at this point, and $500 million looks all but certain), the movie will clearly end up either number one or two on the list of biggest global earners in theaters. Titanic's all-time record looks under severe threat already.

In the face of those kind of numbers, the performance of Sherlock Holmes looks almost pedestrian. The Victorian actioner was down 45% over the weekend at an estimated $38.39 million. But that number represents the 3rd-biggest weekend in January and the movie shot past $100 million in just seven days. Not a bad performance at all.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel made it a fantastic weekend for Fox, posting $36.6 million, down 25%. That happens to be the 4th-biggest weekend in January and takes the movie past $150 million in just 12 days.

Four more movies topped $10 million, and all of them declined only modestly or improved their take from Christmas weekend. It's Complicated came fourth with $18.7 million, down 15%. The Blind Side continued its incredible run by increasing 8% to $12.65 million. That's the eighth-biggest seventh weekend at the box office, incidentally (see chart). Up in the Air earned $11.35 million for sixth place, and The Princess and the Frog had the best hold in the top ten, picking up an extra $10 million to put it within sniffing distance of $100 million at $86.1 million.

- Weekend Estimates
- Biggest 3rd Weekend
- Biggest Weekends in January
- Fastest Movies to $300 million
- All-Time North American Chart
- All-Time Worldwide Chart Weekend Estimates: Avatar Continues Record-Breaking Run - The Numbers


Weekend Estimates: Avatar Continues Record-Breaking Run

January 3, 2010

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Avatar continued its record-setting pace over the weekend, easily breaking the record for the biggest third weekend for a movie (see chart) and also setting a new record for a weekend in January (see chart). Fox estimates a $68.3 million weekend, down a little under 10% from Christmas weekend. Total box office after 17 days is $352 million in the US, and an incredible $670.2 million internationally, for $1.022 billion worldwide, which will put it 4th in the all-time list of global earners by Monday (see chart). Although it's too soon to tell where it will end up in the US (beyond stating the obvious that $400 million is a formality at this point, and $500 million looks all but certain), the movie will clearly end up either number one or two on the list of biggest global earners in theaters. Titanic's all-time record looks under severe threat already.

In the face of those kind of numbers, the performance of Sherlock Holmes looks almost pedestrian. The Victorian actioner was down 45% over the weekend at an estimated $38.39 million. But that number represents the 3rd-biggest weekend in January and the movie shot past $100 million in just seven days. Not a bad performance at all.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel made it a fantastic weekend for Fox, posting $36.6 million, down 25%. That happens to be the 4th-biggest weekend in January and takes the movie past $150 million in just 12 days.

Four more movies topped $10 million, and all of them declined only modestly or improved their take from Christmas weekend. It's Complicated came fourth with $18.7 million, down 15%. The Blind Side continued its incredible run by increasing 8% to $12.65 million. That's the eighth-biggest seventh weekend at the box office, incidentally (see chart). Up in the Air earned $11.35 million for sixth place, and The Princess and the Frog had the best hold in the top ten, picking up an extra $10 million to put it within sniffing distance of $100 million at $86.1 million.

- Weekend Estimates
- Biggest 3rd Weekend
- Biggest Weekends in January
- Fastest Movies to $300 million
- All-Time North American Chart
- All-Time Worldwide Chart

Filed under: Weekend Estimates, Up in the Air, The Blind Side, It’s Complicated, Avatar, The Princess and the Frog, Sherlock Holmes, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel