AVATAR still queuing around the block

Across the Pond
A very Happy New Year, and it certainly is for Mr Cameron and those friendly folk over at FOX. Yes, unsurprisingly, AVATAR remained number one for a third consecutive week breaking all records and passing the $1 billion box office milestone in the process. Dipping only 10% from its mammoth Christmas weekend haul, the futuristic 3D adventure grossed a sensational $68.3m catapulting its 17-day total to an amazing $352.1m yadda yadda yadda!

Guy Ritchie’s impressive SHERLOCK HOLMES dropped 39% in its second weekend to an estimated $38.4m boosting the ten-day total to a spectacular $140.7m – HOLMES remains top of the non-billion dollar grossers.

IT’S COMPLICATED (opening here on Friday) – the divorce comedy starring Meryl Streep trailed behind AVATAR, ALVIN & HOLMES but still achieved a solid ten-day total of $59.1m, slipping only 15% from the week before.

INVICTUS – directed by Clint Eastwood has performed below expectations during awards season and at the box office, now in its fourth week, it has only just managed to scrape past the $30.8m mark.

The UK Box Office (courtesy of Charles Gant over at the Guardian Film Blog)
1. Avatar, £5,940,479 from 493 sites. Total: £32,815,618
2. Sherlock Holmes, £3,439,616 from 484 sites. Total: £12,021,730
3. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, £2,457,029 from 489 sites. Total: £12,594,410
4. Did You Hear About the Morgans?, £1,155,060 from 399 sites (New)
5. Nine, £780,255 from 384 sites. Total: £1,653,547
6. St Trinian’s 2: The Legend Of Fritton’s Gold, £671,480 from 416 sites. Total: £5,575,787
7. 3 Idiots, £331,166 from 53 sites. Total: £1,115,530
8. Nowhere Boy, £237,782 from 176 sites. Total: £749,053
9. The Twilight Saga: New Moon, £215,681 from 194 sites. Total: £26,888,092
10. Planet 51, £163,542 from 327 sites. Total: £4,277,237