Avateriffic, or Avaturd?
In the US: Unsurprisingly, James Cameron's eagerly-awaited sci-fi 3D epic AVATAR dominated the week's box-office, going straight in at #1 with a cool $73m, which is the biggest non-sequel opening ever... leaving the Hugh Grant/Sarah Jessica Parker rom-com DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS? to die with a meagre $7m opening at #4... and George Clooney's Oscar-contender UP IN THE AIR breaks into the top 10 at #8...
US TOP 10
(-) 1. Avatar $73m
(1) 2. The Princess And The Frog $12.2m
(2) 3. The Blind Side $10m
(-) 4. Did You Hear About The Morgans? $7m
(4) 5. The Twilight Saga: New Moon $4.37m
(3) 6. Invictus $4.17m
(5) 7. A Christmas Carol $3.42m
(-) 8. Up In The Air $3.1m
(6) 9. Brothers $2.63m
(7) 10. Old Dogs $2.29m
In the UK: AVATAR is likewise a big smash-hit in the UK, although the bad weather perhaps took the edge off it cracking £10m, as it achieved £8.5 to get #1 comfortably... British-made sequel ST. TRINIAN'S 2 performed quite well considering the competition it faced, in at #2 with a decent £1.5m.
UK TOP 10
(-) 1. Avatar £8.5m
(-) 2. St. Trinian's 2: The Legend Of Fritton's Gold £1.5m
(1) 3. A Christmas Carol £1.03m
(6) 4. Nativity! £578k
(3) 5. Planet 51 £451k
(2) 6. Where The Wild Things Are £415k
(5) 7. The Twilight Zone: New Moon £349k
(7) 8. Law Abiding Citizen £307k
(4) 9. Paranormal Activity £305k
(8) 10. 2012 £171k
UK RELEASES THIS WEEK
NOWHERE BOY
Biopic. A chronicle of John Lennon's childhood.
Director: Sam Taylor Wood Starring: Thomas Sangster, Aaron Johnson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Anne-Marie Duff, David Morrissey & Ophelia Lovibond
Tomatometer: 88% (Fresh; based on 24 reviews)
SHERLOCK HOLMES
Action-adventure. Detective Sherlock Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England.
Director: Guy Ritchie Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel Adams, Mark Strong, Eddie Marsan, Robert Maillet & Kelly Reilly.
Tomatometer: 70% (Fresh; based on 92 reviews) "Guy Ritchie's directorial style might not be quite the best fit for an update on the legendary detective, but Sherlock Holmes benefits from the elementary appeal of a strong performance by Robert Downey, Jr."
