Monday Morning Box Office Report: Avatar Saves Hollywood

Posted by on December 21st, 2009   Filed under: Box Office

boxofficedec21_09

Good news folks… James Cameron’s Avatar has saved cinema! Okay, that may be a little premature. It didn’t break the all-time opening weekend box office record (it didn’t even break the opening weekend record for December), but it still made $232 million worldwide and it is expected to continue making even more money over the next few weeks as strong word of mouth carries it through. For all the things it had going against it (including a big snow storm across the East Coast), I think it’s safe to say that Cameron has silenced his critics. The Princess and the Frog and The Blind Side were a distant second and third this weekend, while Did You Hear About the Morgans? made just $7 million, proving that sometimes America really does have good taste. Will Avatar be able to hold its own against Sherlock Holmes next weekend?

1. Avatar — $73M
2. The Princess and the Frog — $12.2M
3. The Blind Side — $10M
4. Did You Hear About the Morgans? — $7M
5. New Moon — $4.37M
6. Invictus — $4.17M
7. A Christmas Carol — $3.42M
8. Up in the Air — $3.1M
9. Brothers — $2.63M
10. Old Dogs — $2.29M



  • Goon

    Next weekend will be fucked up. Word of mouth carrying this forward vs. Sherlock Holmes vs. Alvin and the Chipmunks vs. a couple smaller films that still have an audience waiting for them: It’s Complicated, Lovely Bones, Dr. Parnassus…

  • Henrik

    I saw Sherlock Holmes to day and it was way better than I expected. It’s like Simon Kinberg-spruced up Guy Ritchie-movie meets Sherlock Holmes movie, and the Sherlock Holmes movie is actually pretty good.

    Robert Downey Jr. gave an actual performance and emulated the character of Holmes rather than do Tony Stark in the past as the trailer seemed to show. I was very pleased with this.

  • Rick

    i am so stoked for sherlock holmes. avatar *meh* not really a priority…but sherlock holmes will deffinatly be seen over the weekend

  • Shaun

    Saw Avatar over the weekend. Visually stunning and just a great movie. Yes, very predictable, but itserved its purpose. Sherlock Holmes…not sure. I want it to be good, but except for Lock Stock & Snatch, Ritchie’s films do more to disappoint/let down than entertain in my opinion.

  • wow, Henrik give me more, because until now I’ve been looking at Sherlock Holmes and thinking nothing is there!

  • Teo

    Sean I read somewhere that Avatar did break the record for biggest opening for a movie that wasnt a sequel or based on a book etc. but i dont know if thats just for december or ever. plus – a lot of people were snowed in over the weekend so im sure theyre going to head out and see it as soon as they can.

  • Henrik

    Well rus, since it was not a public screening, I don’t think I should divulge anymore. I usually avoid talking about movies I watch at press screenings, but I was so surprised by Holmes, I felt it deserved a little bump, because I can imagine many people are dreading the movie. I liked it quite a bit.

  • Marc

    I think Avatar will continue to do very well due to repeat viewing and very strong word of mouth. I can see this film doing $800 million world wide.

    I think if a “utter piece of crap” like Transformers 2 can do 800 million world wide then so can Avatar!

    If not then all hope is lost!

  • aaaaah, isn’t the point of a press screening to get the word out?

  • Henrik

    Yeah, but I wasn’t there representing Filmjunk, and I wasn’t there representing worldwide media (although reviews are posted on the web, they are in danish).

  • Kasper

    Hopefully Sherlock Holmes will kick Avatars ass next week. Sounds good that you’re praising the film Henrik, it just makes me look forward to it even more!

  • The Man

    I fucking hate Guy Richie. I hope Avatar shoves its big blue cock all up in Sherlock Holmes ass!!!

    Christoper Nolan Sherlock Holmes, thats what I want.

  • xego

    I don’t love Guy Richie…but I don’t understand all the animosity towards him…I thought “Lock Stock” and “Snatch” were good films?

  • The Man

    Lock Stock wasn’t bad. It was kinda seen has the British Pulp Fiction, although nowhere near has good. Snatch was garbage, dim witted thugs acting like cartoon characters plus Brad Pitt talking like a moron does not a good movie make. I’m not going to even mention Swept away. The rest of his films are basically straight to video crap.

    Plus he curse us with Jason Statham.

    Basic formula for a Guy Ritchie movie.
    Cockney Accents
    Speed Ramps
    Dumb Nick names
    Stupid Pot to steal something
    And a bullshit Voice over to explain the runs of the game or some shit.

    There could be a Guy Richie story generator.

  • Henrik

    Well, like I said, the Guy Ritchie movie is basically that, but the Sherlock Holmes movie that is also in the movie “Sherlock Holmes” is good.

  • swarez

    I look forward to Sherlock Holmes. I do love Lock Stock and Snatch but it seems that he wasn’t really trying anymore with Rock’n Rolla and Revolver. Swept Away was just embarrassing.