Moviegoers in North America have set a new record for box office spending over the Christmas weekend.
Industry analysts say new releases like Avatar helped take earnings to an estimated $US278 million in the US and Canada.
The James Cameron epic, which reportedly cost $US300 million to make, took an estimated $US75 million in its second weekend, the BBC reports.
Sherlock Holmes, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel and It's Complicated all enjoyed strong debuts.
