Avatar, Sherlock Holmes Help Break Box Office Records
Updated 4:39 PM CDT, Tue, Jan 3, 2012
A lot of people wrapped-up their holiday weekend with a movie, and the box office has record-breaking profits to show for it.
Americans set record attendance at the movies this weekend, with $278-million in ticket sales, breaking the previous record of $253-million set in July of 2008.
The diverse offerings have helped draw in the crowds. The 3-D animated spectacular "Avatar" was number one for the second week in a row. Guy Ritchie’s version of "Sherlock Holmes" placed second, "Alvin and the Chipmunks: the Squeakquel" came in third, at fourth the romantic comedy "It’s Complicated", and at number five, "Up in the Air" – a little something for everyone.
Even with the recession movies have been a relatively cheap form of entertainment. Hollywood insiders expect the moment to continue through the holidays – a happy Hollywood ending for the biggest box office year of all time.
