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There were few major surprises over the weekend, but the biggest was Avatar's unbelievable hold, as the film again beat expectations. The overall box office also beat expectations with $162 million. This was 27% lower than last weekend, but, more importantly, it was up 9.5% compared to the same weekend last year. It's very early in the year, but 2010 already has more than a $100 million lead over 2009's pace, leading $447 million to $341 million.

Another week, another set of milestones / records to report for Avatar. The film added $50.31 million dollars over the weekend, which was a record for largest fourth weekend of release and the second-biggest January weekend of all time. Yes, the film now has the top two weekends in January. It also has three of the top four January days, as well as five of the top seven. Furthermore, it now has $430.85 million after 24 days of release, making it the second-fastest film to reach the $400 million mark and the second film from 2009 to reach that number, which sets yet another record. Also, thanks to its better than expected hold, it was able to overtake Dead Man's Chest and currently sits in seventh place on the All Time chart. Where does Avatar go from here? First of all, by the end of business on Monday, it will very likely be in the top five all time. Before the weekend it will have overtaken Shrek 2 and at the end of the weekend Star Wars Ep. IV: A New Hope will relinquish its hold on third place. It might take a couple more weeks, but overtaking The Dark Knight won't be an issue. Can it catch up to Titanic? It certainly has the potential. Every day on top of the chart aids its quest, not only with the money it pulls in, but with the free publicity it is earning. Also, it has the potential to pick up a few major awards, which could give it the boost it needs to make it over the top.

Sherlock Holmes landed within a rounding error of Thursday's predictions with $16.49 million over the weekend for a total of $165.15 million after three. At this pace, $200 million isn't a sure thing, but it is hardly out of reach. Call it too close to call.

On the other hand, Alvin and the Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel will get to $200 million soon after adding $16.57 million over the weekend for a total of $178.45 million, also after three. The film was less than $20,000 out of second place, and even with direct competition next weekend, it should remain in the top five one more week.

Daybreakers matched expectations (nearly) perfectly with $15.15 million, which was enough for fourth place. With better than expected reviews it should do well enough to cover its $20 million production budget. Lionsgate might not release a lot of $100 million movies, but they have an amazing track record of releasing profitable films.

It's Complicated was able to capture fifth place with $11.01 million over the weekend to give it a running tally of $76.27 million. At this pace, and given its impressive holds, $100 million is all but guaranteed, which would make it the 31st film from 2009 to reach that milestone, and there's one more film that might get there as well.

The only film that missed expectations was Leap Year, which opened in sixth place with $9.20 million in 2,511 theaters for an average of $3,665. That's not a disastrous average, but combined with the film's reviews, it suggests the movie won't last in theaters very long.

The same can be said of Youth in Revolt, which opened with a nearly identical average of $3,678. However, that film was playing in far fewer theaters meaning it opened in ninth place with $6.89 million. That was actually a little higher than expectations, and with a sub-$20 million production budget, it could make a profit on the home market. It certainly has enough positive reviews to suggest word of mouth will help it down the road.

- C.S.Strowbridge Avatar Has Another Titanic Weekend - The Numbers


Avatar Has Another Titanic Weekend

January 11, 2010

Buy at AllPosters.com

There were few major surprises over the weekend, but the biggest was Avatar's unbelievable hold, as the film again beat expectations. The overall box office also beat expectations with $162 million. This was 27% lower than last weekend, but, more importantly, it was up 9.5% compared to the same weekend last year. It's very early in the year, but 2010 already has more than a $100 million lead over 2009's pace, leading $447 million to $341 million.

Another week, another set of milestones / records to report for Avatar. The film added $50.31 million dollars over the weekend, which was a record for largest fourth weekend of release and the second-biggest January weekend of all time. Yes, the film now has the top two weekends in January. It also has three of the top four January days, as well as five of the top seven. Furthermore, it now has $430.85 million after 24 days of release, making it the second-fastest film to reach the $400 million mark and the second film from 2009 to reach that number, which sets yet another record. Also, thanks to its better than expected hold, it was able to overtake Dead Man's Chest and currently sits in seventh place on the All Time chart. Where does Avatar go from here? First of all, by the end of business on Monday, it will very likely be in the top five all time. Before the weekend it will have overtaken Shrek 2 and at the end of the weekend Star Wars Ep. IV: A New Hope will relinquish its hold on third place. It might take a couple more weeks, but overtaking The Dark Knight won't be an issue. Can it catch up to Titanic? It certainly has the potential. Every day on top of the chart aids its quest, not only with the money it pulls in, but with the free publicity it is earning. Also, it has the potential to pick up a few major awards, which could give it the boost it needs to make it over the top.

Sherlock Holmes landed within a rounding error of Thursday's predictions with $16.49 million over the weekend for a total of $165.15 million after three. At this pace, $200 million isn't a sure thing, but it is hardly out of reach. Call it too close to call.

On the other hand, Alvin and the Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel will get to $200 million soon after adding $16.57 million over the weekend for a total of $178.45 million, also after three. The film was less than $20,000 out of second place, and even with direct competition next weekend, it should remain in the top five one more week.

Daybreakers matched expectations (nearly) perfectly with $15.15 million, which was enough for fourth place. With better than expected reviews it should do well enough to cover its $20 million production budget. Lionsgate might not release a lot of $100 million movies, but they have an amazing track record of releasing profitable films.

It's Complicated was able to capture fifth place with $11.01 million over the weekend to give it a running tally of $76.27 million. At this pace, and given its impressive holds, $100 million is all but guaranteed, which would make it the 31st film from 2009 to reach that milestone, and there's one more film that might get there as well.

The only film that missed expectations was Leap Year, which opened in sixth place with $9.20 million in 2,511 theaters for an average of $3,665. That's not a disastrous average, but combined with the film's reviews, it suggests the movie won't last in theaters very long.

The same can be said of Youth in Revolt, which opened with a nearly identical average of $3,678. However, that film was playing in far fewer theaters meaning it opened in ninth place with $6.89 million. That was actually a little higher than expectations, and with a sub-$20 million production budget, it could make a profit on the home market. It certainly has enough positive reviews to suggest word of mouth will help it down the road.

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Filed under: Daybreakers, It’s Complicated, Youth in Revolt, Avatar, Sherlock Holmes, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, Leap Year