Monday Morning Box Office Report: Avatar Solves Sherlock Holmes
Movies were big business this Christmas — in fact, the biggest they’ve ever been! This past weekend was the highest grossing weekend ever in the history of cinema, thanks to the three-way combination of Avatar, Sherlock Holmes and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, all of which accounted for over $190 million. James Cameron’s Avatar did come out on top, however, dropping just 3% from its opening weekend and proving that positive reviews and strong word of mouth can go a long way. It’s Complicated and Up in the Air rounded out the Top 5. With no major releases planned for next weekend, you can expect all of these films to bank even more cash as we ring in the New Year. Could Avatar actually challenge Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen for the top grossing movie of 2009? If it can manage another $75 million weekend, I think it would be a strong possibility!
1. Avatar — $75M
2. Sherlock Holmes — $65.4M
3. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel — $50.2M
4. It’s Complicated — $22.1M
5. Up in the Air — $11.8M
6. The Blind Side — $11.7M
7. The Princess and the Frog — $8.68M
8. Nine — $5.54M
9. Did You Hear About the Morgans? — $5M
10. Invictus — $4.39M
Comments (26)
Lesson, don’t doubt Cameron. Cameron maybe a dick, but he knows how to put asses in seats.
Posted by The Man on December 28th, 2009I saw Avatar 2x already, and i still plan to go in IMAX once it stops selling out every showing. It’s such a great theater experience, it’s almost more like going on a ride than going to a movie.
Posted by Mike on December 28th, 2009I also have seen Avatar twice and would have no problem seeing it a third time, especially at IMAX. It only had a 3% drop from its opening weekend. That is effing unbelievable.
Posted by Justice on December 28th, 2009I’m so happy to see an original film like Avatar doing so well. Let’s hope we get more in 2010!
Posted by Marc on December 28th, 2009Lets get off Avatars nutz for a second. Yes the visuals were impressive but the dialogue and typical story made it a barely bearable 2 hours and 40 min. (Over Rated)
Posted by Joel on December 28th, 2009Wouldn’t pay to see ANY of the top 10…
As for Avatard – The tired plot of smashed-up cliches mixed with blue smurfs outweighs any amount of sweeping Pandora scenes or Barlowe inspired beasties. A buddy suggested I go to it and wear headphones of my own music and just stare at the pretty images onscreen. Seems like to much trouble.
Posted by damndirtyape on December 28th, 2009I wonder how many movies have made as much as Sherlock and The Chipmunks did without getting the #1 spot?
Posted by Brendan on December 28th, 2009I just checked, and these two are #54 and #111 on the list of biggest weekends at the box office.
I have to assume that $50.2 million is fairly unheard of for a 3rd place movie.
“The tired plot of smashed-up cliches… …A buddy suggested I go to it and wear headphones of my own music and just stare at the pretty images onscreen. Seems like to much trouble.”
Look, I know Avatar is getting (IMO unfairly) tossed around for its plot, but judging it (and 9 other films) without seeing it is a bit much. It bears repeating – some films are not what they’re about, but how they’re about it, and Avatar is one of those cases.
Posted by Goon on December 29th, 2009the box office numbers are fact. Avatar is exactly like the other films that have legs like it does, E.T., Raiders of The Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, Star Wars. Good movies, made by good directors, telling time tested stories, retold in a new way, that TOUCHES the public. To keep harping on the story makes you look like a film fool that knows nothing about film making and the power/desire for the communal cinema experience.
Posted by rus in chicago on December 29th, 2009i’m just not going to see it for the reason it pushes propaganda down your throat. did go see sherlock holmes. that movie kicked ass
Posted by Rick on December 29th, 2009I’m really surprised by this. We tried to get into Sherlock Holmes Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and it was sold out at every time at the three multiplexes in my town. I figured that it must be dominating the box office. Maybe it is just because Avatar was on more screens, but I think Sherlock Holmes could have sold out those extra screens if given the opportunity. Finally saw it on Monday and it was a lot of fun.
Posted by Icarus Arts on December 29th, 2009@damndirtyape
Avatard? Blue Smurfs? Why, did you think of that yourself?
You’re the same person who bashes pretty much anything to give a false sense of cultured superiority even though you’re tasteless as can be. The same people who go around on games forums bashing the “Sony Gaystation” Grats idiot.
Posted by stevie_baby on December 30th, 2009Ha ha I bash films I don’t like on random movie forums and Avatar is one of them. Let me guess – your feelings are hurt because other people laugh at some movie you find thrilling? Are you Cameron’s little niece or something?
As for “cultured superiority” you have no fucking clue as to what you are talking about because one of Cameron’s own films is my second favorite science fiction film. I have praised several films around here as well as bashed others.
Hell hath no fury like a fanboy scorned. Relax “Stevie” it’s only the internet.
Posted by damndirtyape on December 30th, 2009“I bash films I don’t like on random movie forums and Avatar is one of them. ”
You don’t know if you don’t like Avatar if you haven’t seen it. You should start saying ‘don’t think I’d like’ instead.
post 10 is rickdiculous.
Posted by Goon on December 30th, 2009“rickdiculous”
aw, you used my named as a pun for your own insult. Goon, i’m touched…and here i thought you were just trying to ignore me.
i’m sorry but it does push a political agenda down your throat, even the review said so and i’m just not into that. so maybe i should start off by saying, i don’t think i’d like that movie for reason i know i’d hate.
Posted by Rick on December 30th, 2009Come on Rick, you’ve come in multiple times to claim it pushes an agenda down your throat. I actually addressed the claim at length in another thread which you didn’t notice or ignored. As far as Avatar goes, unless you see it, you’re basically being like Tim1974 and his anti-penis crusade.
And besides, this ‘political agenda’ stuff of yours presumes you couldn’t enjoy the movie on any other level. Unless of course politics really is your first priority or prerequisite in enjoying any film, which would be pretty sad.
Posted by Goon on December 30th, 2009Actually wait, I’ll assume its not a preerequisite. I know you’re a Mormon and yet also a South Park and Family Guy fan. If you can reconcile those two things, you can certainly sit through Avatar and watch the blue monkeys fight.
Posted by Goon on December 30th, 2009Why should I ignore a political agenda that’s put in a movie on purpose? Obviously their trying to get a message across or they would not put the agenda in the movie in the first place. So if they have the right to put it in their agenda i have a right to acknowledge that I’m not going to sit through that bull shit.
As far as South Park is concerned they make fun of both sides. They don’t just lean one way while demeaning another. Everything is fair game. I almost quit watching family guy but they insult everyone most the time. so that if you don’t feel offended while watching it your probably not paying close enough attention.
And besides goon, I’m not telling other people not to see avatar. I’m not saying it’s a horrible movie. I’m just pissed that this political bull shit has to be a part of it so I personally won’t go see it. Even though I really want too. What’s wrong with that?
but it’s like i said first. if they have the right to put it, i have the right to tune out because of it.
Posted by Rick on December 30th, 2009Well your loss then Rick, but I think your analysis of its ‘political bullshit’ is uninformeed. LIke I said, I already addressed why, you can seek it out or not, but you’d be arguing from ignorance/second hand sources.
I can cite and have cited conservative critics who say to ignore those who cry ‘propaganda’. And at least for them I can say they’re not afraid to confront art with opinions they may not agree with.
Posted by Goon on December 30th, 2009i’ll argue with anyone any where goon. but i’m not about to go pay for something so i can debate with it. Just like I would not watch a movie from michael Moore, or sit through a lecture from reid, pelosi, or obama. these second hand sources as you call them actually went and saw the movie. I have yet to hear someone tell me that the political aspect of the movie did not bother them. so How that is second hand i do not know. second hand in that they do not agree with your assesment? are you telling me there is no political agenda in this movie goon?
“Well your loss then Rick”
Posted by Rick on December 30th, 2009with years of therapy i’m sure i’ll learn how to cope….one day at a time
obama ftw
Posted by Henrik on December 30th, 2009“have yet to hear someone tell me that the political aspect of the movie did not bother them. so How that is second hand i do not know”
You mean you haven’t heard from another conservative that the politics didn’t bother them I bet. And like I said, in the other thread I linked to a couple conservative reviewers who said it didn’t bother them, that its not anti-military its anti-mercenary, etc. Other than that there’s the environmental stuff, which shouldn’t be a problem unless you think common sense environmentalism about respecting nature is ‘propaganda’. I never watched a second of Avatar thinking “oh Sean Hannity won’t like this”, if there is any intended message it is highly secondary to the action and the spectacle.
Someone elses opinion is the very definition of a second hand opinion. Just FYI. I think you confused second hand with second rate. Kind of a weird thing to fuck up.
So unless you want to keep making assertions over something you haven’t seen for yourself, I’d say we’re done here.
Posted by Goon on December 30th, 2009Your assertions about me are no different then my assertions about the movie. You admit there is a political aspect so I am not wrong about that. I do not like Sean Hannity, more of a Ann Colter, Rush Limbaugh kind of guy. I’m all for respecting the environment, just not when it comes to human progression as long as it’s with in reason. Like, let’s drill for oil. As far as the political reviews. They were just normal people who were at the theater that happened to be there when I went to go see Sherlock Holmes. I asked if they saw it. They said yes. I asked what they thought. They told me. Asked them if they sensed a political theme and every single person told me they felt that there was and they did not care for it. Even a few said they agreed with the message but they wanted to go to a movie to be entertained (which they were) they just didn’t appreciate the poly sci lesson attached too it.
“In the other thread I linked to a couple conservative reviewers who said it didn’t bother them, that it’s not anti-military its anti-mercenary”
Aren’t you liberal goon? Only now you start to listen to conservative commentators? Probably should have started that around Canada’s social health care re-form
So it seems to me we are back to the overlying theme here that because I’m basing my opinion on people who differ from you where by choosing not to see this movie, I am ignorant. as far as I’m concerned I do not need to do drugs to know they are bad, I do not need to fuck a whore to know what diseases might stem from it, and I do not need to see a movie with a political bias which I will already tell will ruin the movie for me.
I in no way have said anything bad about this movie, only stating the reason I won’t be seeing it. Have I said goon you’re a fucking hippy for seeing this stupid ass movie. The movies fucking gay bla bla bla bla bla. No, I have not. Merely stating I don’t care for the political over tone, and I will not be seeing it. Jesus. I’ve never seen you so riled up over someone not wanting to see a movie before. you may not like my decision, and hate my reasoning but like my father always told me “tough shit”
Posted by Rick on December 30th, 2009(not around my mom though, cuz you know…the mormon thing)
Dear lord forget I said anything, i should have known you were just looking for an excuse to take it right back into all other politics… I was talking about this movie and its issues and there you go attacking Canadian health care and blah blah blah.
Bottom line – you’re attacking a movie you haven’t seen, and I have. I know the themes and can discuss them in detail. You can’t without using someone elses perspective.
Posted by Goon on December 30th, 2009And dont lie to me either, buddy
“it pushes propaganda down your throat”
becomes
“Merely stating I don’t care for the political over tone”
The former basically says we’re all swallowing its propaganda and makes opinionated assertions that would infer you actually have seen it and would know.
Posted by Goon on December 30th, 2009in short besst movie ever! u all mean. ottherwise u fuckin crrazzy
Posted by quitit, $Version=0 on January 4th, 2010Leave a Reply