Thanksgiving audiences reward Twilight with $42m US hold

Said comedy opened on $29.5m over three days and $42m over five and should be a formidable prospect for Buena Vista heading into the holiday season.

Arthur Christmas from Aardman Animation and Columbia Pictures Animation ranked fourth on a modest $12.7m, while Martin Scorsese’s Hugo could not translate critical adulation into commercial heft and opened in fifth place on $11.4m.

Fox Searchlight’s The Descendants from Alexander Payne and starring George Clooney ranks tenth in its second weekend on a highly promising $10.7m from 433.

After three weekends Relativity’s Immortals has grossed an underwhelming $68.6m. Warner Bros’ J Edgar from Clint Eastwood dropped out of the top ten in its third weekend and stands at $28.8m.

The Weinstein Company released two awards contenders this weekend. My Week With Marilyn starring Oscar hopefuls Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh opened in 12th place on a modest $1.8m from 244 theatres. The Artist enjoyed an excellent debut, grossing $210,000 from four venues for a $52,500 per-site average.

SPC opened A Dangerous Method from David Cronenberg to terrific success, too. The drama grossed $182,000 from four for a $45,500 average.

Estimated Top 10 North America Nov 25-27, 2011
Film (Dist) / Est wkd gross / Est total to date

1 (1) The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 (Summit) Summit Int’l $42m $221.3m

2 (-) The Muppets (Buena Vista) WDSMPI $29.5m $42m

3 (2) Happy Feet Two (Warner Bros) WBPI $13.4m $43.8m

4 (-) Arthur Christmas (Sony) SPRI $12.7m $17m

5 (-) Hugo (Paramount) PPI/GK Films $11.4m $15.4m

6 (4) Jack And Jill (Sony) SPRI $10.3m $57.4m

7 (3) Immortals (Relativity) Lionsgate/Relativity/Universal $8.8m $68.8m

8 (5) Puss In Boots (DreamWorks Animation/Paramount) PPI $7.5m $135.4m

9 (6) Tower Heist (Universal) UPI $7.3m $65.4m

10 (10) The Descendants (Fox Searchlight) Fox Int’l $7.2m $10.7m