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Adventure box office · December 2009

Adventure Box Office, December 2009: Top-Grossing Releases

Avatar (2009) is the highest-grossing adventure movie released in December 2009, with $2.9B worldwide, ahead of Sherlock Holmes (2009) at $524M and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) at $61.8M. 14 adventure films released in December 2009 report a worldwide gross, $3.6B in all, 28% of it from the US & Canada. 1 film crossed $1 billion and 2 crossed $100 million. That is 3.1 times the total of November 2009, whose releases took $1.2B. By language, English leads with $3.5B across 6 adventure releases.

December 2009 releases with a gross
14
combined worldwide
$3.6B
films crossed $100M
2
vs November 2009
×3.1
Avatar (2009) movie poster #1 of 14
#1 adventure movie of December 2009

Avatar (2009)

2009 · Action, Adventure

$2.9B worldwide · 81% of the chart's total

$785.2M US & Canada · 27% $2.1B elsewhere · 73%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest Adventure Hits of December 2009?

Avatar (2009) leads with $2.9B, 81% of the total. The top 5 together took $3.6B, 99% of what all 14 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. Avatar (2009) movie poster Number 1
    $2.9B Avatar (2009)
    $785.2M US & Canada · 27% $2.1B elsewhere · 73%
  2. Sherlock Holmes (2009) movie poster Number 2
    $524M Sherlock Holmes (2009)
    $209M US & Canada · 40% $315M elsewhere · 60%
  3. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) movie poster Number 3
    $61.8M The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
    $7.7M US & Canada · 12% $54.1M elsewhere · 88%
  4. One Piece Film: Strong World (2009) movie poster Number 4
    $49.3M One Piece Film: Strong World (2009)
    No US & Canada figure reported
  5. Black Lightning (2009) movie poster Number 5
    $21M Black Lightning (2009)
    No US & Canada figure reported

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every Adventure Release of December 2009, Ranked by Worldwide Gross

Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in December 2009.

  1. 1 Avatar (2009) movie poster
    Avatar (2009) Dec 18, 2009 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $2.9B worldwide
    Dec 18, 2009 US and Canada: $785.2M Rest of the world: $2.1B Worldwide: $2.9B
  2. 2 Sherlock Holmes (2009) movie poster
    Sherlock Holmes (2009) Dec 25, 2009 · English · Action, Adventure, Mystery $524M worldwide
    Dec 25, 2009 US and Canada: $209M Rest of the world: $315M Worldwide: $524M
  3. 3 The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) movie poster
    The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) Dec 25, 2009 · English · Adventure, Mystery, Fantasy $61.8M worldwide
    Dec 25, 2009 US and Canada: $7.7M Rest of the world: $54.1M Worldwide: $61.8M
  4. 4 One Piece Film: Strong World (2009) movie poster
    One Piece Film: Strong World (2009) Dec 12, 2009 · Japanese · Animation, Adventure, Fantasy $49.3M worldwide
    Dec 12, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $49.3M
  5. 5 Black Lightning (2009) movie poster
    Black Lightning (2009) Dec 28, 2009 · Russian · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $21M worldwide
    Dec 28, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $21M
  6. 6 St Trinian’s 2: The Legend of Fritton’s Gold (2009) movie poster
    St Trinian’s 2: The Legend of Fritton’s Gold (2009) Dec 18, 2009 · English · Comedy, Family, Adventure $11.2M worldwide
    Dec 18, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $11.2M
  7. 7 Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legends The Movie (2009) movie poster
    Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legends The Movie (2009) Dec 12, 2009 · Japanese · Adventure, Sci-Fi, Action $6.2M worldwide
    Dec 12, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.2M
  8. 8 Space Battleship Yamato Resurrection (2009) movie poster
    Space Battleship Yamato Resurrection (2009) Dec 12, 2009 · Japanese · Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure $4.3M worldwide
    Dec 12, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.3M
  9. 9 The Treasure Hunter (2009) movie poster
    The Treasure Hunter (2009) Dec 9, 2009 · Chinese · Sci-Fi, Adventure, Fantasy $1.7M worldwide
    Dec 9, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.7M
  10. 10 Nikté (2009) movie poster
    Nikté (2009) Dec 18, 2009 · Spanish · Animation, Family, Adventure $1.3M worldwide
    Dec 18, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3M
  11. 11 Under the Mountain (2009) movie poster
    Under the Mountain (2009) Dec 10, 2009 · English · Drama, Fantasy, Adventure $662.9K worldwide
    Dec 10, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $662.9K
  12. 12 Our Masha and the Magic Nut (2009) movie poster
    Our Masha and the Magic Nut (2009) Dec 10, 2009 · Russian · Fantasy, Animation, Family $636.6K worldwide
    Dec 10, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $636.6K
  13. 13 Yona Yona Penguin (2009) movie poster
    Yona Yona Penguin (2009) Dec 23, 2009 · Japanese · Adventure, Family, Animation $188.7K worldwide
    Dec 23, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $188.7K
  14. 14 Ballistica (2009) movie poster
    Ballistica (2009) Dec 18, 2009 · English · Action, Adventure $66.1K worldwide
    Dec 18, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $66.1K
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in December 2009?

Of the top 10, Sherlock Holmes (2009) earned the biggest share at home (40% in the US & Canada), while The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) made 88% of its gross abroad. Across all 14 films, $1B (28%) came from the US & Canada. 7 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.

  1. 1 Avatar (2009) $2.9B
    $785.2M US & Canada · 27% $2.1B elsewhere · 73%
  2. 2 Sherlock Holmes (2009) $524M
    $209M US & Canada · 40% $315M elsewhere · 60%
  3. 3 The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) $61.8M
    $7.7M US & Canada · 12% $54.1M elsewhere · 88%
  4. 4 One Piece Film: Strong World (2009) $49.3M
    No US & Canada figure reported
  5. 5 Black Lightning (2009) $21M
    No US & Canada figure reported
  6. 6 St Trinian’s 2: The Legend of Fritton’s Gold (2009) $11.2M
    No US & Canada figure reported
  7. 7 Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legends The Movie (2009) $6.2M
    No US & Canada figure reported
  8. 8 Space Battleship Yamato Resurrection (2009) $4.3M
    No US & Canada figure reported
  9. 9 The Treasure Hunter (2009) $1.7M
    No US & Canada figure reported
  10. 10 Nikté (2009) $1.3M
    No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands

How Many December 2009 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

2 of 14 films crossed $100M and took $3.4B between them, 96% of the total. 8 films, 57% of the list, earned under $10M.

  • $1B or more 1 film, 7% of the list $2.9B · 81% of the gross
  • $500M to $1B 1 film, 7% of the list $524M · 15% of the gross
  • $100M to $500M 0 films, 0% of the list No films
  • $10M to $100M 4 films, 29% of the list $143.3M · 4% of the gross
  • Under $10M 8 films, 57% of the list $15.1M · <1% of the gross
By release week

Which Week of December 2009 Had the Biggest Releases?

Films released in week 51 (Dec 13–19) took $2.9B, led by Avatar (2009). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.

  1. Week 49 Wk 49 Nov 29–Dec 5 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  2. Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 6–12 One Piece Film: Strong World (2009) $62.8M One Piece Film: Strong World (2009)
  3. Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 13–19 Avatar (2009) $2.9B Avatar (2009)
  4. Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 20–26 Sherlock Holmes (2009) $586M Sherlock Holmes (2009)
  5. Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 27–31 Black Lightning (2009) $21M Black Lightning (2009)
Earlier years

How Does December 2009 Compare With December in Earlier Years?

Of these 10 years, December 2009 earned the most: $3.6B from 14 films, led by Avatar (2009).

Month Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
December 2000 8 films 8 $1.2B – Cast Away (2000) $429.6M
December 2001 5 films · −17% 5 $1B −17% The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) $888.5M
December 2002 4 films · −93% 4 $69.5M −93% The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002) $60.7M
December 2003 9 films · +2583% 9 $1.9B +2583% The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) $1.1B
December 2004 11 films · −71% 11 $533.9M −71% Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004) $211.5M
December 2005 11 films · +204% 11 $1.6B +204% The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) $745M
December 2006 11 films · −18% 11 $1.3B −18% Night at the Museum (2006) $574.5M
December 2007 14 films · −11% 14 $1.2B −11% National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007) $459.2M
December 2008 9 films · −87% 9 $152.3M −87% The Tale of Despereaux (2008) $87M
December 2009 14 films · +2267% 14 $3.6B +2267% Avatar (2009) $2.9B
By language

Which Languages Do the Biggest Adventure Movies Speak in December 2009?

English-language adventure films took $3.5B across 6 films, 98% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language adventure films ($60M) and Russian-language adventure films ($21.6M).

December 2009 Adventure Box Office by Language

  1. English $3.5B
    6 films · #1 Avatar (2009)
  2. Japanese $60M
    4 films · #1 One Piece Film: Strong World (2009)
  3. Russian $21.6M
    2 films · #1 Black Lightning (2009)
  4. Chinese $1.7M
    1 film · #1 The Treasure Hunter (2009)
  5. Spanish $1.3M
    1 film · #1 Nikté (2009)
Archive

Adventure Box Office in 2009, Month by Month

The months of 2009 with their totals: December leads with $3.6B, led by Avatar (2009).

FAQ

Adventure Box Office December 2009: Questions & Answers

The chart's numbers in short: the #1 film, the total, the billion-dollar hits and the US & Canada share, answered from the same 14 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing adventure movie in December 2009?

Avatar (2009) leads with $2.9B worldwide, $785.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Sherlock Holmes (2009) at $524M and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) at $61.8M.

How much did adventure movies released in December 2009 earn?

14 adventure films released in December 2009 report a worldwide gross, $3.6B in all, or $257.6M per film on average. November 2009 releases took $1.2B.

How many adventure movies released in December 2009 made $1 billion?

1 film crossed $1 billion worldwide: Avatar (2009). 2 crossed $100 million.

How much of the December 2009 Adventure box office came from the US and Canada?

$1B of the $3.6B total, or 28%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 11 films of the 14 report no domestic figure.

How is the December 2009 adventure box office chart ranked and where do the numbers come from?

Films are ranked by lifetime worldwide gross in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation, and grouped by their release date in December 2009. The figures are the reported box office grosses in our database. A gross that looks misattributed, such as one figure shared by two unrelated films or a blockbuster total on an obscure title, is left out rather than shown as a fact.

How often is the December 2009 adventure box office chart updated?

Grosses change while films are in theaters and whenever a new figure is reported; this chart reads the latest numbers in our database, so an older film can still move after a re-release.