4xX To The Power Of 1

Despite dismal reviews Four Christmases proved that audiences were ready for a holiday themed flick...Twilight sunk its vamp teeth into 2nd place...



Pamela McClintock of Variety:

Holiday theater traffic stayed strong over the long Thanksgiving sesh as moviegoers tasted dishes up and down the crowded buffet of titles.

The biggest victory went to Warner Bros/New Line’s Vince Vaughn-Reese Witherspoon comedy “Four Christmases.”

“Four Xmases”--opening Wednesday and far surpassing expectations--grossed an estimated $46.7 million from 3,310 runs for the five-day frame, and $31.7 million for the three-day weekend, according to Rentrak.

The most anticipated film of the holiday was 20th Century Fox’s epic “Australia,” from director Baz Luhrmann. Pic picked up the pace dramatically as adults were sprung from holiday duties.

Toplining Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman, “Australia” grossed an estimated $20 million from 2,642 runs for the five days, and $14.8 million for the three-day weekend. “Australia,” exceeding Fox’s expectations, placed No. 5 overall.

Adults also turned out in droves for specialty pic “Milk,” from Gus Van Sant and toplining Sean Penn. “Milk” cracked the top 10 box office chart in its first outing, grossing an estimated $1.9 million for the five days--a stunning per location average of $52,627--and $1.4 million for the weekend.

Lionsgate’s male-actioner “Transporter 3,” the third new wide release of the holiday, grossed an estimated $18.5 million from 2,626 for the five days, and $12.3 million for the weekend, putting it at No. 7.

There was plenty of room left on the plate for holdovers, driving the domestic box office up 2% to 3% over last Thanskgiving.

“Twilight” and 3-D toon “Bolt” came in No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, in their second frames.

“Twilight” grossed an estimated $39.5 million from 3,425 for the five-day sesh, and $26.4 million for the weekend, bringing the film’s cume to $119.7 million in its 10th day in release. Pic declined 62% weekend over weekend.

Disney’s “Bolt,” playing in 3,654 runs, pulled off a stunning coup in showing a 1.4% increase over last weekend. Family film grossed an estimated $36 million for five days, and $26.6 million for the weekend, for a cume of $66.9 million in its 10th day.

Sony/MGM’s “Quantum” came in an impressive No. 4 over the holiday frame, grossing an estimated $28.1 for the five days, and $19.5 million for the weekend, for a cume of $142 million. Pic dipped a mere 27% weekend over weekend.

DreamWorks Animation/Paramount’s “Madagascar: Escape 2 African” also generated strong biz, coming in No. 6. In its fourth sesh, toon grossed an estimated $19.6 million for the five days, and $14.5 million for the weekend, for a cume of $160 million....

Meanwhile: Quantum Of Solace still rules foreign box office

Joshua Rich of EW:

Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn's comedy took the Thanksgiving weekend box office with ease