Avatar continued to tear down box-office records in its second weekend. Dropping just 2 percent from its opening weekend, the James Cameron film earned $75.62 million, substantially upsetting the previous second-week record set by The Dark Knight . With the help of premium ticket pricing for 3D and IMAX venues, the film averaged $21,880 per theater. Avatar earned $12.1 million from IMAX theaters alone, setting a record for that format. The film's success came in the face of strong competition from Sherlock Holmes , which amassed $65.38 million, making it the best Christmas opener in history. Not to be outdone, Alvin & the Chipmunks The Squeakquel did more than squeak by as it tallied $48.88 million over the weekend and earned $79.59 million from Wednesday, when it opened. Overall, the top 12 films grossed $264 million, up 47.02 percent from the comparable week a year ago.

The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Box Office Mojo (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date) 1. Avatar , Fox, $75,617,133, 2 Wks. ($212,711,184); 2. Sherlock Holmes, Warner Bros, $65,380,000, (New); 3. Alvin and the Chipmunks The Squeakquel , Fox, $48,875,415, 1 Wk. ($75,589,048 -- From Wednesday); 4. It's Complicated, Universal, $22,100,820, (New); 5. Up in the Air , Paramount, $11,755,000, 4 Wks. ($24,518,000); 6. The Blind Side , Warner Bros. , $11,730,000, 6 Wks. ($184,387,000); 7. The Princess and the Frog , Disney, $9,004,610, 5 Wks. ($63,679,289); 8. Nine , Weinstein Co. $5,452,513, 2 Wks. ($5,830,605); 9. Did You Hear About the Morgans? , Sony, $5,000,143, 2 Wks. ($15,600,328); 10. Invictus, Warner Bros. $4,390,000, 3 Wks. ($23,365,000).

29/12/2009