娱乐英语新闻:"Avatar" continues winning streak at N America box office with many firsts

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Writer-director James Cameron's undeniable dominance at the North America box office has once again been sealed as his latest immersive spectacle "Avatar" kept its number one billing at the fourth weekend, with many firsts, the North America box office authorities said Sunday.

According to the projected statistics released by the authorities, 20th Century Fox's fantasy will gross 429 million U.S. dollars in movie houses in the United States and Canada by Sunday night. Worldwide, it is estimated to garner a gross sales of 1.34 billion dollars. It has becomes the highest grossing film of 2009 as well as the second highest grossing film worldwide of all-time, only eclipsed by Cameron's own film "Titanic" (1.842 billion U.S. dollars). It will be the first IMAX release to gross 100 million dollars in global receipts, the North America box office authorities estimated.

Director James Cameron (C) poses with movie goers Mahdroo McCaleb (R) and Sonjia Huirzar at a sold-out midnight screening of Cameron's new film "Avatar: The IMAX 3D Experience" at the AMC 16 IMAX 3D theater in Burbank, California December 17, 2009 in this publicity photograph released December 18

    The second place was retained by "Sherlock Holmes," a Warner Bros.' release with 16.6 million dollars in estimated weekend sales. All told, the film is projected to bring in 165.2 million dollars in first three weeks of release.

    Number three is also a Fox holdover, "Alvin And the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" is estimated to take in 16.3 million dollars in weekend sales for a three-week total of 178.2 million dollars.

    Rounding out the top five weekend films for domestic takes are:

    No. 4: "Daybreakers," Lionsgate, debuting with 15 million dollars;

    No. 5: "It's Complicated," Universal, 11 million dollars this weekend, 76.4 million dollars over three weeks.