Weekend Box Office | featured news

James Bond is in a box-office photo finish with Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny over what looks to be the last slow weekend of the holidays. According to studio estimates Sunday, Sony's Bond tale "Skyfall" took in $11 million to move back to No. 1 in its fifth weekend. That put it narrowly ahead of Paramount's "Rise of the Guardians," the animated adventure of Santa, the Easter Bunny and other mythological heroes that pulled in $10.5 million.

The "Twilight" finale and "Skyfall continued to dominate the box office on a typically slow post-Thanksgiving weekend that brought big business for holdover films but a poor start for Brad Pitt's new crime story. Sunday studio estimates put "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2" out front for the third-straight weekend with $17.4 million domestically.

Bella Swan, James Bond and Abe Lincoln have combined to lift Hollywood to record Thanksgiving revenue at the box office. Kristen Stewart's finale as Bella in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" was No. 1 again with $64 million during the five-day holiday stretch that began Wednesday, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The sun has set on the "Twilight" franchise with one last blockbuster opening for the supernatural romance. "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2" sucked up $141.3 million domestically over opening weekend and $199.6 million more overseas for a worldwide debut of $340.9 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

James Bond's "Skyfall" has extended its worldwide box-office rule to North America, hauling in a franchise-record $87.8 million in its first weekend at U.S. theaters. Adding in $2.2 million from Thursday night previews at IMAX and other large-format theaters, "Skyfall" has taken in $90 million domestically, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Moviegoing solid in Northeast as families look for relief from superstorm Sandy; "Flight" grabs $25 million, kung fu pic "Man With the Iron Fists" places No. 4 with $8.2 million.

Acclaimed Iran hostage drama "Argo" took home its first box office win over the weekend, grabbing $12.4 million in ticket sales at U.S. and Canadian theaters.

Distributed by Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Pictures, "Paranormal Activity 4" took in $30.2 million in its first weekend in theaters in North America, a significant drop from the opening haul of the third film in the franchise, which earned $52.6 million.

Liam Neeson's "Taken 2" has defended its box-office title with a narrow win over Ben Affleck's "Argo." Sunday studio estimates put 20th Century Fox's action sequel "Taken 2" at No. 1 with $22.5 million in its second weekend. "Taken 2" raised its domestic total to $86.8 million.

The Liam Neeson action pic grosses $50 million in North America and $55 million overseas; musical comedy "Pitch Perfect" turns in a solid $14.7 million domestically, while Tim Burton's "Frankenweenie" falters with $11.5 million.