By Laurie A. Trotta
The Nicolas Cage adventure “National Treasure: Book of Secrets” handily took the title of highest grossing film on Christmas day, as Americans left their gifts under their trees and headed out for some Hollywood-style entertainment. According to CNN, “National Treasure” grossed $65.4 million over the five-day holiday weekend, the highest total for the year.
Santa was also good to other Hollywood movies as well over the Christmas holiday, delivering hearty box-office returns of more than 34 percent above the same weekend last year, CNN reported. Movies brought in a total of $160 million Friday through Sunday, compared to about $119 million for the same period last Christmas weekend. “I Am Legend” dropped to second place with a $47.6 million holiday-weekend take. The animated “Alvin and the Chipmunks” finished third with $38.6 million.
The top 10 movies at U.S. and Canadian theaters Friday through Tuesday, as compiled by Media By Numbers LLC:
1. “National Treasure: Book of Secrets,” Disney: $65,444,195; 3,832 locations, $17,078 average, $65,444,195 for one week.
2. “I Am Legend,” Warner Bros.: $47,685,378; 3,620 locations, $13,173 average, $150,950,671 for two weeks.
3. “Alvin and the Chipmunks,” Fox: $38,609,310; 3,499 locations, $11,034 average, $94,476,107 for two weeks.
4. “Charlie Wilson’s War,” Universal: $15,952,430; 2,575 locations, $6,195 average, $15,952,430 for one week.
5. “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” Dreamworks/Paramount: $13,635,390; 1,249 locations, $10,917 average, $13,635,390 for one week.
6. “P.S. I Love You,” Warner Bros.: $10,048,349; 2,454 locations, $4,095 average, $10,048,349 for one week.
7. “Alien vs. Predator: Requiem,” Fox: $9,515,615; 2,563 locations, $3,713 average, $9,515,615 for one week.
8. “The Golden Compass,” New Line: $6,931,000; 2,953 locations, $2,347 average, $51,379,000 for three weeks.
9. “Juno,” Fox Searchlight: $6,817,494; 305 locations, $22,352 average, $9,802,170 for three weeks.
10. “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,” Sony/Columbia: $6,257,174; 2,650 locations, $2,361 average, $6,257,174 for one week.
Top All-Time Christmas Grosses:
1. Meet the Fockers – $19.5M
2. National Treasure: Book of Secrets – $14.75M
3. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King – $13.9M
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $12.3M
5. Night at the Museum – $11.7M
All-Time Top 5-Day Grosses During the Holiday Season:
1. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King – $137.6M
2. Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire – $119.7M
3. Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone – $104.5M
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $102M
5. Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets – $98.4M
6. I Am Legend – $91.1M
7. The Matrix: Revolutions – $83.7M
8. The Incredibles – $77.4M
9. Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring – $75.1M
10. The Chronicles of Narnia – $74.1M
11. Meet the Fockers – $70.5M
12. Monsters, Inc. – $70.3M
13. Nation Treasure: Book of Secrets – $68.1M (estimate)
14. King Kong – $66.1M
15. How the Grinch Stole Christmas – $63.5M
16. 8 Mile – $60.2M
17. Die Another Day – $55.3M
18. American Gangster – $50.6M
19. Alvin & the Chipmunks – $49.4M
20. Casino Royale – $49.1M
Sources: www.slashfilm.com
http://money.cnn.com/
