'Avatar' leads way as holiday box office breaks record

By Adnan Tezer Dec 29, 2009, 2:01 GMT

The 2009 Christmas weekend broke the record for the biggest domestic box office weekend in history.

According to Variety, revenues for the weekend topped out at $280 million, beating the $260 million earned the weekend "The Dark Knight" opened in July 2008.

Domestic ticket sales for 2009 went past the $10 billion mark for the first time ever.

20th Century's 3D James Cameron film "Avatar" won the weekend in its second weekend of release with $75 million for a domestic cumulative of $212.3 million.

Warner Bros.' Robert Downey Jr.-Jude Law film "Sherlock Holmes," opened in second place with $65.4 million, which is a new record for a film opening on Christmas weekend. "Meet the Fockers" previously held the record at $46.2 million.

Fox’s "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" opened at No.3 as it enjoyed a five-day Christmas opening of $77.1 million that included $50.2 million over the weekend.

Universal's romantic comedy "It's Complicated" starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin came in at No. 4, opening to $22.1 million.

Paramount's George Clooney film "Up in the Air" came in No. 5 for the weekend, grossing $11.8 million for a domestic cumulative of $24.5 million.