The holiday box office is looking to turn things around in what has been a slow turn at the box office that past few 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 40 million dollars (USD) in ticket sales, according to studio estimates compiled by Reuters on Sunday (December 18, 2011).
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 13 million at just 425 theaters over three days...averaging out to more than 30,000 dollars per screen.
"Sherlock Holmes" and "Chipwrecked" played in more than 3,700 theaters each.
The film and Cruise have earned strong reviews.
John Russell, Reuters.