'Sherlock Holmes' outsmarts B.O. competition on Christmas Day

Great news! Variety reports that Kelly Reilly's new film Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey Jr., Rachel McAdams, and Jude Law, which opened Christmas Day not only topped Friday/Christmas Day's opening with $24.9M over Avatar's $23.6M, but also made a sweet Christmas Box Office record (FYI: The record for a Christmas Day opening was set last year when Marley and Me grossed $14.4 million).

Read more from the Variety article below...

'Sherlock Holmes' outsmarts B.O. competition 
Film posts record Christmas haul of $24.9 million

Warner Bros.' period action pic "Sherlock Holmes" raked in $24.9 million yesterday, notching the best Christmas day opening ever at the domestic box office.

Directed by Guy Ritchie, "Sherlock" marks the Blighty helmer's first wide release stateside after making his mark with a string of high-octane actioners such as "Snatch" and "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels." The film, in play at 3,626 venues, easily becomes the best opening for Ritchie as his previous pics received platform bows. "Sherlock" also served up runner-up opening day records for producer Joel Silver and leading thesp Robert Downey, Jr., whose respective highs are "The Matrix Reloaded" ($42.5 million) and "Iron Man" ($38.7 million). "Sherlock" is Ritchie's second collaboration with Silver after last year's Gerard Butler shoot-em up "RockNRolla."

In addition, "Sherlock" filed the second best Friday bow in December for Warner Bros. behind 2007’s "I Am Legend" ($30.1 million). Overall, the top 10 films totaled a spectacular $82.9 million, repping a 24% gain on Christmas 2008 (which fell on a Thursday) and a 31% rise over the same Friday, December 26th, a year ago.

Read full article here!

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