Sequels lead at weekend box office
Posted December 18, 2011 4:24 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The holiday box office is looking to turn things around after a few slow weeks.
The action adventure film Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows led a trio of sequels at the U.S. box office over the weekend with US$40 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates compiled by Reuters on Sunday.
The opening number was considered slightly disappointing.
The sequel to 2009’s Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey Jr. had enough to beat out Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, the third film in the popular family franchise.
Chipwrecked checked in at 23.5 million from Friday through Sunday.
Helping lift holiday spirits was an exceptional showing in a limited release for Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. The fourth movie in the action series starring Tom Cruise was in third place with US$13 million at just 425 theaters over three day, averaging out to more than $30,000 per screen.
Sherlock Holmes and Chipwrecked played in more than 3,700 theaters each.
