#1 of 12 #1 fantasy movie of December 2009
2009 · Action, Adventure
$2.9B worldwide · 82% of the chart's total
$785.2M US & Canada · 27% $2.1B elsewhere · 73%
Fantasy box office · December 2009
Fantasy Box Office, December 2009: Top-Grossing Releases
Avatar (2009) is the highest-grossing fantasy movie released in December 2009, with $2.9B worldwide, ahead of Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009) at $443.1M and The Lovely Bones (2009) at $93.6M. 12 fantasy films released in December 2009 report a worldwide gross, $3.6B in all, 29% of it from the US & Canada. 1 film crossed $1 billion and 2 crossed $100 million. That is up 144% on November 2009, whose releases took $1.5B. By language, English leads with $3.5B across 7 fantasy releases.
- December 2009 releases with a gross
- 12
- combined worldwide
- $3.6B
- films crossed $100M
- 2
- vs November 2009
- +144%
#1 of 12 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Fantasy Hits of December 2009?
Avatar (2009) leads with $2.9B, 82% of the total. The top 5 together took $3.6B, almost all of what the 12 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
-
Number 2 $443.1M Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)$219.6M US & Canada · 50% $223.5M elsewhere · 50% -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Fantasy 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 Dec 18, 2009 US and Canada: $785.2M Rest of the world: $2.1B Worldwide: $2.9B
- 2 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)Dec 23, 2009 US and Canada: $219.6M Rest of the world: $223.5M Worldwide: $443.1M
Dec 23, 2009 · English · Fantasy, Comedy, Romance $443.1M worldwide - 3 Dec 11, 2009 US and Canada: $44.1M Rest of the world: $49.5M Worldwide: $93.6M
- 4 The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)Dec 25, 2009 US and Canada: $7.7M Rest of the world: $54.1M Worldwide: $61.8M Dec 25, 2009 · English · Adventure, Mystery, Fantasy $61.8M worldwide
- 5 One Piece Film: Strong World (2009)Dec 12, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $49.3M
Dec 12, 2009 · Japanese · Animation, Adventure, Fantasy $49.3M worldwide - 6
Xuxa and the Mystery of the Little Ugly Princess (2009)Dec 25, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.7M
Dec 25, 2009 · Portuguese · Fantasy, Family $4.7M worldwide - 7
Dec 16, 2009 US and Canada: $3.5K Rest of the world: $2.5M Worldwide: $2.5M - 8
Dec 9, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.7M - 9
Dec 25, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4M - 10
Dec 10, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $662.9K - 11
Our Masha and the Magic Nut (2009)Dec 10, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $636.6K
Dec 10, 2009 · Russian · Fantasy, Animation, Family $636.6K worldwide - 12
Dec 25, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $12.6K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in December 2009?
Of the top 10, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009) earned the biggest share at home (50% in the US & Canada), while Ricky (2009) made 100% of its gross abroad. Across all 12 films, $1.1B (29%) came from the US & Canada. 5 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Avatar (2009) $2.9B $785.2M US & Canada · 27% $2.1B elsewhere · 73%
- 2 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009) $443.1M $219.6M US & Canada · 50% $223.5M elsewhere · 50%
- 3 The Lovely Bones (2009) $93.6M $44.1M US & Canada · 47% $49.5M elsewhere · 53%
- 4 The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) $61.8M $7.7M US & Canada · 12% $54.1M elsewhere · 88%
- 5 One Piece Film: Strong World (2009) $49.3M No US & Canada figure reported
- 6 Xuxa and the Mystery of the Little Ugly Princess (2009) $4.7M No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 Ricky (2009) $2.5M $3.5K US & Canada · <1% $2.5M elsewhere · 100%
- 8 The Treasure Hunter (2009) $1.7M No US & Canada figure reported
- 9 D@bbe 2 (2009) $1.4M No US & Canada figure reported
- 10 Under the Mountain (2009) $662.9K No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many December 2009 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
2 of 12 films crossed $100M and took $3.4B between them, 94% of the total. 7 films, 58% of the list, earned under $10M.
82% 12%
- $1B or more 1 film, 8% of the list $2.9B · 82% of the gross
- $500M to $1B 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $100M to $500M 1 film, 8% of the list $443.1M · 12% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 3 films, 25% of the list $204.7M · 6% of the gross
- Under $10M 7 films, 58% of the list $11.6M · <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.
- Week 49 Wk 49 Nov 29–Dec 5 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 6–12 The Lovely Bones (2009) $145.9M The Lovely Bones (2009)
- Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 13–19 Avatar (2009) $2.9B Avatar (2009)
- Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 20–26 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009) $511.1M Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)
- Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 27–31 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does December 2009 Compare With December in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, December 2009 earned the most: $3.6B from 12 films, led by Avatar (2009).
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 2000 5 films | 5 | $916.5M | – | What Women Want (2000) $374.1M |
| December 2001 9 films · +8% | 9 | $987.8M | +8% | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) $888.5M |
| December 2002 4 films · −83% | 4 | $167.2M | −83% | The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002) $60.7M |
| December 2003 7 films · +740% | 7 | $1.4B | +740% | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) $1.1B |
| December 2004 8 films · −65% | 8 | $492.2M | −65% | Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004) $211.5M |
| December 2005 6 films · +58% | 6 | $779.2M | +58% | The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) $745M |
| December 2006 8 films · +50% | 8 | $1.2B | +50% | Night at the Museum (2006) $574.5M |
| December 2007 6 films · −27% | 6 | $852.6M | −27% | The Golden Compass (2007) $372.2M |
| December 2008 12 films · −15% | 12 | $727M | −15% | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) $335.8M |
| December 2009 12 films · +393% | 12 | $3.6B | +393% | Avatar (2009) $2.9B |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Fantasy Movies Speak in December 2009?
English-language fantasy films took $3.5B across 7 films, 98% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language fantasy films ($49.3M) and Portuguese-language fantasy films ($4.7M).
December 2009 Fantasy Box Office by Language
- English $3.5B7 films · #1 Avatar (2009)
- Japanese $49.3M1 film · #1 One Piece Film: Strong World (2009)
- Portuguese $4.7M1 film · #1 Xuxa and the Mystery of the Little Ugly Princess (2009)
-
Chinese $1.7M1 film · #1 The Treasure Hunter (2009) -
Turkish $1.4M1 film · #1 D@bbe 2 (2009) - Russian $636.6K1 film · #1 Our Masha and the Magic Nut (2009)
Archive
Fantasy Box Office in 2009, Month by Month
The months of 2009 with their totals: December leads with $3.6B, led by Avatar (2009).
- January $163M #1 Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)
- February $202.3M #1 Coraline (2009)
- March $129.9M #1 Race to Witch Mountain (2009)
- April $55.7M #1 Dragonball: Evolution (2009)
- May $890M #1 Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)
- June $25.5M #1 Imagine That (2009)
- July $1.3B #1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
- August $336.9M #1 Ponyo (2009)
- September $136.1M #1 9 (2009)
- October $193.1M #1 Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
- November $1.5B #1 The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)
- December $3.6B #1 Avatar (2009)
FAQ
Fantasy 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 12 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing fantasy movie in December 2009?
Avatar (2009) leads with $2.9B worldwide, $785.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009) at $443.1M and The Lovely Bones (2009) at $93.6M.
How much did fantasy movies released in December 2009 earn?
12 fantasy films released in December 2009 report a worldwide gross, $3.6B in all, or $298.6M per film on average. November 2009 releases took $1.5B.
How many fantasy movies released in December 2009 made $1 billion?
1 film crossed $1 billion worldwide: Avatar (2009). 2 crossed $100 million.
How is the December 2009 fantasy 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 fantasy 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.