New Films Struggle on Record Weekend

Woe to those who go up against vampires and James Bond—not to mention Abe Lincoln. Holdovers ruled the box office this holiday weekend, with The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 2 winning easily ($43.1 million), followed by Skyfall ($36 million) and awards hopeful Lincoln ($34.1 million), says the Hollywood Reporter. Animated kids' flick Rise of the Guardians—about the Easter Bunny, Santa, and other childhood figures battling evil—fared poorly for a DreamWorks Animation film ($32.6 million).

Life of Pi did surprisingly well, banking $22 million at home and a strong $17.5 million abroad, taking first place in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and India. Brisk domestic business made this the top-grossing Thanksgiving weekend ever, at $290 million—easily outpacing the $270.5 million made in 2009. (More box office stories.)