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Holiday movies offer recession relief

Jeff Tyler Dec 28, 2009
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Holiday movies offer recession relief

Jeff Tyler Dec 28, 2009
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Bob Moon: Americans delivered a big “bah-humbug” to the recession to the tune of a quarter-of-a-billion dollars at the box office over the weekend. We need no reminder that the economy isn’t so hot. But ticket sales definitely are. Apparently what we need is an escape. Here’s Marketplace’s Jeff Tyler.


JEFF TYLER: Higher ticket prices in recent years have led some analysts to predict that movies may no longer be recession-resistant.

Guess again, says Carl DiOrio, deputy film editor at The Hollywood Reporter.

CARL DiOrio: The skeptics were proven wrong once again. It turns out that going to the movies is a pretty good deal in most consumers’ minds.

The sci-fi extravaganza “Avatar” remained the top draw for the second weekend in a row. Where “Avatar” is shown in 3-D, some cinemas are charging premium ticket prices, which has helped bolster box office receipts. In other theaters, an English detective has proven enduringly popular.

Paul Dergarabedian follows box office trends for Hollywood.com, a Web site devoted to movie news.

PAUL Dergarabedian: “Sherlock Holmes” not only posted a record-breaking opening weekend, it also set the record for a Christmas Day debut, with about $25 million.

Families turned out also, mostly to watch those annoying chipmunks.

Chipmunks: Oh, relax. Who’s going to beat singing chipmunks?

DiOrio with The Hollywood Reporter says that “Alvin and the Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel” appears set to earn $200 million domestically.

DiOrio: Hate to say it, but we may be seeing a third Chipmunks movie at some point at this rate.

With no new movies opening this week and many people still on vacation, movie theaters are expecting their good run to continue.

In Los Angeles, I’m Jeff Tyler for Marketplace.

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