‘Sherlock Holmes’ sequel leads movie box office

LOS ANGELES |
Sun Dec 18, 2011 11:20pm IST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – 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 in ticket sales, according to studio estimates compiled by Reuters on Sunday.

The sequel to 2009′s “Sherlock Holmes” starring Robert Downey Jr. beat “Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked,” the third film in the popular family franchise. “Chipwrecked” pulled in $23.5 million from Friday through Sunday.

“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. “Sherlock Holmes” and “Chipwrecked” played in more than 3,700 theaters each.

Time Warner Inc (TWX.N) unit Warner Bros. distributed “Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows.” “Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked” was released by 20th Century Fox, a unit of News Corp (NWSA.O). Paramount, a unit of Viacom Inc VIAb.O, released “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.”

(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by John O’Callaghan)

Article source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/INentertainmentNews/~3/tb8mLBlOl1Q/boxoffice-idINDEE7BH09H20111218

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