I Am Legend proved to be legendary, indeed, as it opened with a staggering 76.5 million dollars--an all-time record for a film in December. Considering it exceeded estimates by over $30M, I think it's safe to say that Will Smith is now officially the biggest movie star in the world. I can't remember the last time I typed out such a depressing statement. Alvin in the Chipmunks surged unexpectedly, bringing in an even $45M, also far above original projections. Come to think of it, that may be an even more depressing statement than the one above.

The Golden Compass continued to flounder ($9M/$45.9M), while Enchanted ($6M/$92.2M) and No Country for Old Men ($3M/$33.5M) both held strong. Given the success of This Christmas, the weak debut of Perfect Holiday ($2.5M/$3.2M) was a disappointment. Hold-overs reigned after that: Fred Claus ($2.3M/$68.9M), This Christmas ($2.3M/$46M), Atonement ($1.8M/$2.9M) and August Rush ($1.7M/$28M). In limited release, The Kite Runner ($12,885 per theater) opened okay, while Youth Without Youth ($4633) was flat.

Photo courtesy of Warner Brothers