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Avatar kept trucking over the weekend, boasting not only the biggest gross by far but also the smallest decline among nationwide releases. James Cameron's juggernaut calmed by just 18 percent, which was almost as small as Titanic at the same point. Raking in $34.9 million, Avatar broke the record for sixth weekend gross formerly held by Titanic's $25.2 million (though Titanic retains the crown in terms of estimated attendance). Paul BettanyDwayne JohnsonHarrison FordBrendan Fraser

Release Date: May 21 (in 3D and conventional theaters) Mike MyersEddie MurphyCameron DiazAntonio BanderasJulie Andrews

Release Date: May 14 Ridley ScottBrian HelgelandRussell CroweCate BlanchettKevin Costner

Release Date: May 7 Jon FavreauRobert Downey Jr.Gwyneth PaltrowDon CheadleScarlett JohanssonMickey RourkeSamuel L. Jackson

For the four-day Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, Avatar pulled in $54.4 million, eclipsing Cloverfield's $46.1 million as the biggest gross the holiday period has ever seen. Debuting in second place, The Book of Eli was no slouch either, grossing $38.4 million, which was the holiday's fourth-biggest ever. As busy as the weekend was, though, it couldn't match last year's MLK record, which saw five movies gross over $20 million, led by the debut of Paul Blart: Mall Cop. Denzel WashingtonJackie Chan

Release Date: April 30 Wes CravenMichael Bay

Release Date: April 16Matthew Vaughn

Release Date: March 26 (conventional theaters and IMAX 3D) Peter TolanGerard Butler

Release Date: April 2 (formerly March 26)Sam WorthingtonLiam Neeson

Release Date: March 5 (in Disney Digital 3D and IMAX 3D) Tim BurtonMia WasikowskaJohnny DeppHelena Bonham CarterAnne HathawayAlan Rickman

Release Date: Feb. 19 Martin ScorseseLeonardo DiCaprioMark RuffaloBen Kingsley

Release Date: Feb. 12Garry MarshallJessica AlbaKathy BatesJessica BielJamie FoxxJennifer GarnerTopher GraceAnne HathawayAshton KutcherQueen LatifahJulia Roberts

Release Date: Feb. 12 Chris ColumbusUma ThurmanPierce BrosnanSean BeanSteve Coogan

The 2010 box office is off to a blistering start, thanks mostly to 2009 holdover Avatar. Whether it will ultimately top 2009's record-breaking $10.6 billion gross remains to be seen, but Hollywood has some highly-anticipated releases lined up for the new year.

The holidays are over, but Avatar was relatively unfazed, defying "the bigger they are, the harder they fall" adage. Over the weekend, Avatar generated $50.3 million, breaking the record for biggest fourth weekend gross previously held by Titanic's $28.7 million. It was down just 27 percent, giving it the best hold among nationwide releases. Its IMAX venues alone were down 14 percent, accounting for an estimated $7.5 million of the weekend.

Robert Downey Jr.Johnny DeppNancy MeyersMeryl StreepAlec BaldwinSteve Martin

The advent of Avatar obtained $77 million on approximately 7,000 screens at 3,452 sites over the weekend, claiming the highest-grossing opening ever for a movie that's neither a sequel, a remake nor a direct adaptation (though others had greater attendance). It was also the second highest-grossing December opening weekend after I Am Legend ($77.2 million). Overall weekend business surged 55 percent over the same weekend last year, but was down considerably from the comparable period in 2007, when I Am Legend and Alvin and the Chipmunks debuted. James CameronHugh GrantSarah Jessica ParkerSandra Bullock

On Friday, Avatar wrangled a stellar estimated $27 million on approximately 7,000 screens at 3,452 sites (including $3.5 million from its midnight start). The picture's 3D presentations at 2,038 sites accounted for 58 percent of the gross. James Cameron

In its midnight launch, Avatar pulled in $3.537 million at approximately 2,000 sites. 3D runs accounted for 85 percent of the gross. While such midnight grosses are not necessarily indicative of how the full weekend will play out, the initial sampling was nonetheless strong for a movie with no predecessors. James Cameron