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English box office · December 2009

English Box Office, December 2009: Top-Grossing Releases

Avatar (2009) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in December 2009, with $2.9B worldwide, ahead of Sherlock Holmes (2009) at $524M and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009) at $443.1M. 36 English-language films released in December 2009 report a worldwide gross, $5B in all, 34% of it from the US & Canada. 1 film crossed $1 billion and 6 crossed $100 million. That is up 67% on November 2009, whose releases took $3B. By genre, Fantasy leads with $3.5B across 7 English releases.

December 2009 releases with a gross
36
combined worldwide
$5B
films crossed $100M
6
vs November 2009
+67%
Avatar (2009) movie poster #1 of 36
#1 English-language movie of December 2009

Avatar (2009)

2009 · Action, Adventure

$2.9B worldwide · 59% of the chart's total

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

What Were the Biggest English Hits of December 2009?

Avatar (2009) leads with $2.9B, 59% of the total. The top 5 together took $4.3B, 86% of what all 36 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. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009) movie poster Number 3
    $443.1M Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)
    $219.6M US & Canada · 50% $223.5M elsewhere · 50%
  4. It's Complicated (2009) movie poster Number 4
    $219.1M It's Complicated (2009)
    $112.7M US & Canada · 51% $106.4M elsewhere · 49%
  5. Up in the Air (2009) movie poster Number 5
    $166.8M Up in the Air (2009)
    $83.8M US & Canada · 50% $83M elsewhere · 50%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every English 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 · Action, Adventure $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 · Action, Adventure $524M worldwide
    Dec 25, 2009 US and Canada: $209M Rest of the world: $315M Worldwide: $524M
  3. 3 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009) movie poster
    Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009) Dec 23, 2009 · Fantasy, Comedy $443.1M worldwide
    Dec 23, 2009 US and Canada: $219.6M Rest of the world: $223.5M Worldwide: $443.1M
  4. 4 It's Complicated (2009) movie poster
    It's Complicated (2009) Dec 25, 2009 · Comedy, Romance $219.1M worldwide
    Dec 25, 2009 US and Canada: $112.7M Rest of the world: $106.4M Worldwide: $219.1M
  5. 5 Up in the Air (2009) movie poster
    Up in the Air (2009) Dec 4, 2009 · Drama, Romance $166.8M worldwide
    Dec 4, 2009 US and Canada: $83.8M Rest of the world: $83M Worldwide: $166.8M
  6. 6 Invictus (2009) movie poster
    Invictus (2009) Dec 11, 2009 · Biography, Drama $122.4M worldwide
    Dec 11, 2009 US and Canada: $37.5M Rest of the world: $84.9M Worldwide: $122.4M
  7. 7 The Lovely Bones (2009) movie poster
    The Lovely Bones (2009) Dec 11, 2009 · Drama, Thriller $93.6M worldwide
    Dec 11, 2009 US and Canada: $44.1M Rest of the world: $49.5M Worldwide: $93.6M
  8. 8 Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009) movie poster
    Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009) Dec 18, 2009 · Drama, Comedy $85.3M worldwide
    Dec 18, 2009 US and Canada: $29.6M Rest of the world: $55.7M Worldwide: $85.3M
  9. 9 The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) movie poster
    The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) Dec 25, 2009 · Adventure, Mystery $61.8M worldwide
    Dec 25, 2009 US and Canada: $7.7M Rest of the world: $54.1M Worldwide: $61.8M
  10. 10 Nine (2009) movie poster
    Nine (2009) Dec 18, 2009 · Drama, Romance $54M worldwide
    Dec 18, 2009 US and Canada: $19.7M Rest of the world: $34.3M Worldwide: $54M
  11. 11 The Vicious Kind (2009) movie poster
    The Vicious Kind (2009) Dec 11, 2009 · Drama, Comedy $47.7M worldwide
    Dec 11, 2009 US and Canada: $25.5M Rest of the world: $22.2M Worldwide: $47.7M
  12. 12 Crazy Heart (2009) movie poster
    Crazy Heart (2009) Dec 16, 2009 · Drama, Romance $47.4M worldwide
    Dec 16, 2009 US and Canada: $39.5M Rest of the world: $7.9M Worldwide: $47.4M
  13. 13 Brothers (2009) movie poster
    Brothers (2009) Dec 4, 2009 · Drama, Thriller $43.5M worldwide
    Dec 4, 2009 US and Canada: $28.5M Rest of the world: $14.9M Worldwide: $43.5M
  14. 14 The Young Victoria (2009) movie poster
    The Young Victoria (2009) Dec 18, 2009 · Biography, Drama $29.2M worldwide
    Dec 18, 2009 US and Canada: $11M Rest of the world: $18.2M Worldwide: $29.2M
  15. 15 A Single Man (2009) movie poster
    A Single Man (2009) Dec 11, 2009 · Drama $25M worldwide
    Dec 11, 2009 US and Canada: $9.2M Rest of the world: $15.8M Worldwide: $25M
  16. 16 Armored (2009) movie poster
    Armored (2009) Dec 4, 2009 · Action, Drama $22.9M worldwide
    Dec 4, 2009 US and Canada: $16M Rest of the world: $7M Worldwide: $22.9M
  17. 17 The Last Station (2009) movie poster
    The Last Station (2009) Dec 4, 2009 · Biography, Drama $20.6M worldwide
    Dec 4, 2009 US and Canada: $6.6M Rest of the world: $13.9M Worldwide: $20.6M
  18. 18 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 · Comedy, Family $11.2M worldwide
    Dec 18, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $11.2M
  19. 19 Map of the Sounds of Tokyo (2009) movie poster
    Map of the Sounds of Tokyo (2009) Dec 2, 2009 · Drama, Romance $3.2M worldwide
    Dec 2, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.2M
  20. 20 Ricky (2009) movie poster
    Ricky (2009) Dec 16, 2009 · Drama, Fantasy $2.5M worldwide
    Dec 16, 2009 US and Canada: $3.5K Rest of the world: $2.5M Worldwide: $2.5M
  21. 21 Under the Mountain (2009) movie poster
    Under the Mountain (2009) Dec 10, 2009 · Drama, Fantasy $662.9K worldwide
    Dec 10, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $662.9K
  22. 22 The New Daughter (2009) movie poster
    The New Daughter (2009) Dec 18, 2009 · Thriller, Horror $579.6K worldwide
    Dec 18, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $579.6K
  23. 23 Giant (2009) movie poster
    Giant (2009) Dec 4, 2009 · Drama $527.2K worldwide
    Dec 4, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $527.2K
  24. 24 Transylmania (2009) movie poster
    Transylmania (2009) Dec 4, 2009 · Horror, Comedy $408.2K worldwide
    Dec 4, 2009 US and Canada: $397.6K Rest of the world: $10.6K Worldwide: $408.2K
  25. 25 Serious Moonlight (2009) movie poster
    Serious Moonlight (2009) Dec 4, 2009 · Comedy, Romance $348.3K worldwide
    Dec 4, 2009 US and Canada: $25.3K Rest of the world: $323K Worldwide: $348.3K
  26. 26 The Gruffalo (2009) movie poster
    The Gruffalo (2009) Dec 25, 2009 · Family, Animation $342.8K worldwide
    Dec 25, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $342.8K
  27. 27 The Robbers (2009) movie poster
    The Robbers (2009) Dec 27, 2009 · Comedy $254.5K worldwide
    Dec 27, 2009 US and Canada: $83.5K Rest of the world: $171K Worldwide: $254.5K
  28. 28 Until the Light Takes Us (2009) movie poster
    Until the Light Takes Us (2009) Dec 4, 2009 · Music, Documentary $130.4K worldwide
    Dec 4, 2009 US and Canada: $130.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $130.4K
  29. 29 My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done (2009) movie poster
    My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done (2009) Dec 11, 2009 · Drama, Horror $76.7K worldwide
    Dec 11, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $76.7K
  30. 30 Ballistica (2009) movie poster
    Ballistica (2009) Dec 18, 2009 · Action, Adventure $66.1K worldwide
    Dec 18, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $66.1K
  31. 31 The Slammin' Salmon (2009) movie poster
    The Slammin' Salmon (2009) Dec 11, 2009 · Comedy $60.4K worldwide
    Dec 11, 2009 US and Canada: $41.6K Rest of the world: $18.8K Worldwide: $60.4K
  32. 32 The New Tenants (2009) movie poster
    The New Tenants (2009) Dec 30, 2009 · Comedy, Crime $15K worldwide
    Dec 30, 2009 US and Canada: $15K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15K
  33. 33 The Lightkeepers (2009) movie poster
    The Lightkeepers (2009) Dec 18, 2009 · Drama, Comedy $13.6K worldwide
    Dec 18, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $13.6K
  34. 34 Sita Sings the Blues (2009) movie poster
    Sita Sings the Blues (2009) Dec 25, 2009 · Fantasy, Comedy $12.6K worldwide
    Dec 25, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $12.6K
  35. 35 One Peace at a Time (2009) movie poster
    One Peace at a Time (2009) Dec 4, 2009 · Documentary $11.7K worldwide
    Dec 4, 2009 US and Canada: $11.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.7K
  36. 36 The Strip (2009) movie poster
    The Strip (2009) Dec 4, 2009 · Comedy $5.1K worldwide
    Dec 4, 2009 US and Canada: $5.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.1K
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in December 2009?

Of the top 10, It's Complicated (2009) earned the biggest share at home (51% in the US & Canada), while The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) made 88% of its gross abroad. Across all 36 films, $1.7B (34%) came from the US & Canada.

  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 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009) $443.1M
    $219.6M US & Canada · 50% $223.5M elsewhere · 50%
  4. 4 It's Complicated (2009) $219.1M
    $112.7M US & Canada · 51% $106.4M elsewhere · 49%
  5. 5 Up in the Air (2009) $166.8M
    $83.8M US & Canada · 50% $83M elsewhere · 50%
  6. 6 Invictus (2009) $122.4M
    $37.5M US & Canada · 31% $84.9M elsewhere · 69%
  7. 7 The Lovely Bones (2009) $93.6M
    $44.1M US & Canada · 47% $49.5M elsewhere · 53%
  8. 8 Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009) $85.3M
    $29.6M US & Canada · 35% $55.7M elsewhere · 65%
  9. 9 The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) $61.8M
    $7.7M US & Canada · 12% $54.1M elsewhere · 88%
  10. 10 Nine (2009) $54M
    $19.7M US & Canada · 36% $34.3M elsewhere · 64%
Gross bands

How Many December 2009 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

6 of 36 films crossed $100M and took $4.4B between them, 89% of the total. 18 films, 50% of the list, earned under $10M.

  • $1B or more 1 film, 3% of the list $2.9B · 59% of the gross
  • $500M to $1B 1 film, 3% of the list $524M · 11% of the gross
  • $100M to $500M 4 films, 11% of the list $951.5M · 19% of the gross
  • $10M to $100M 12 films, 33% of the list $542.2M · 11% of the gross
  • Under $10M 18 films, 50% of the list $9.1M · <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 $3.2B, 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 Up in the Air (2009) $258.4M Up in the Air (2009)
  2. Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 6–12 Invictus (2009) $289.5M Invictus (2009)
  3. Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 13–19 Avatar (2009) $3.2B Avatar (2009)
  4. Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 20–26 Sherlock Holmes (2009) $1.2B Sherlock Holmes (2009)
  5. Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 27–31 The Robbers (2009) $269.5K The Robbers (2009)
Earlier years

How Does December 2009 Compare With December in Earlier Years?

Of these 10 years, December 2009 earned the most: $5B from 36 films, led by Avatar (2009).

Month Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
December 2000 28 films 28 $1.9B – Cast Away (2000) $429.6M
December 2001 31 films · +48% 31 $2.8B +48% The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) $888.5M
December 2002 33 films · −39% 33 $1.7B −39% Catch Me If You Can (2002) $352.1M
December 2003 28 films · +88% 28 $3.1B +88% The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) $1.1B
December 2004 33 films · −40% 33 $1.9B −40% Meet the Fockers (2004) $522.7M
December 2005 33 films · +48% 33 $2.8B +48% The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) $745M
December 2006 49 films · −1% 49 $2.8B −1% Night at the Museum (2006) $574.5M
December 2007 34 films · +17% 34 $3.2B +17% I Am Legend (2007) $585.4M
December 2008 43 films · −27% 43 $2.4B −27% The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) $335.8M
December 2009 36 films · +110% 36 $5B +110% Avatar (2009) $2.9B
By genre

Which English Genres Earned the Most in December 2009?

Fantasy took $3.5B across 7 films, 71% of the total, ahead of Adventure ($3.5B) and Action ($3.5B). A film counts once for each of its genres.

December 2009 English Box Office by Genre

  1. Fantasy $3.5B
    7 films · #1 Avatar (2009)
  2. Adventure $3.5B
    6 films · #1 Avatar (2009)
  3. Action $3.5B
    4 films · #1 Avatar (2009)
  4. Sci-Fi $2.9B
    1 film · #1 Avatar (2009)
  5. Romance $1B
    10 films · #1 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)
  6. Comedy $810M
    14 films · #1 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)
  7. Drama $765.3M
    18 films · #1 Up in the Air (2009)
  8. Thriller $687.8M
    6 films · #1 Sherlock Holmes (2009)
  9. Mystery $585.8M
    2 films · #1 Sherlock Holmes (2009)
  10. Crime $524.4M
    3 films · #1 Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Archive

English Box Office in 2009, Month by Month

The months of 2009 with their totals: December leads with $5B, led by Avatar (2009).

FAQ

English 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 36 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing English-language 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 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009) at $443.1M.

How much did English-language movies released in December 2009 earn?

36 English-language films released in December 2009 report a worldwide gross, $5B in all, or $137.5M per film on average. November 2009 releases took $3B.

How many English-language movies released in December 2009 made $1 billion?

1 film crossed $1 billion worldwide: Avatar (2009). 6 crossed $100 million.

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

$1.7B of the $5B total, or 34%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 10 films of the 36 report no domestic figure.

How is the December 2009 English 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, and so are films whose stored language is most likely wrong.

How often is the December 2009 English 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.