'Avatar' to battle 'Sherlock Holmes' for top spot this weekend

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Last weekend's blockbuster Avatar will try to maintain its grip on the top spot at the box office in the US this weekend. With lots of appealing films luring audiences into theaters, the sci-fi epic will face competition, especially with the action-adventure crowd looking for an updated version of Sherlock Holmes.

Since last weekend's snowstorms on the American East Coast kept moviegoers out of theaters for a few days, it is expected that they will opt for Avatar first. Especially if the fantasy film repeats the performance of James Cameron's last hit, Titanic. Last weekend also experienced sold-out seats and limited 3D screens.

It could be a record-breaking Christmas weekend with several major movie releases tempting audiences during the holiday week through New Year's day. Other films feature big star value, such as Robert Downey Jr. as the title character in Sherlock Holmes, Nine with Penelope Cruz, Fergie, Kate Hudson, and more, George Clooney in the critically acclaimed Up In the Air, Meryl Streep's It's Complicated, and family favorite, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.

Yet as the biggest 3D movie launch ever, Avatar has already earned more than $242 million worldwide and holds the edge as the mainstream pick with the buzz to break records.

RC