The holidays finally perked up movie theater attendance, thanks to new releases featuring well known stars. Even without counting the Thursday holiday, last weekend generated an estimated $204 million in total domestic box office receipts, making it the highest-grossing three-day December weekend ever, according to Box Office Mojo.

Leading the way was Marley & Me, with a four-day total of $51.7 million ($37 million Fri., Sat. and Sun.) on 4,400 screens at 3,480 theaters. The film starring Jennifer Anniston and Owen Wilson is a comedy that everyone can enjoy, and who can resist an adorable but micheveous Labrador retriever puppy named Marley? Women and families made up the majority of audiences, according to 20th Century Fox.

Bedtime Stories ranked second over the long Christmas weekend, grossing $38.6 million ($28.1 million Fri., Sat. and Sun.) on 4,900 screens. Adam Sandler stars in this comedy loaded with special effects, including a bug-eyed hamster. Sandler is known for his childish humor, as in Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison, and it will be interesting to see if this movie continues to fare well with audiences or if its opening strength was due solely to the holiday weekend.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button opened on 4,100 screens with a solid four-day total of $39 million ($27 million Fri.-Sun.). The drama about a man who ages backwards stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett and is said to have a sad, downhearted tone. There has already been a lot of buzz about the success of this movie, including five Golden Globe nominations and three for Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Valkyrie the one thriller that opened, staring Tom Cruise, grossed $30 million over the four-day weekend ($21.5 million Fri.-Sun.) appearing in 2,711 theaters. It was far from Cruise’s most successful opener, but it was strong, particularly among women, who made up 65 percent of audiences, and the 66 percent who were over the age of 25. Cruise stars as German Army Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg who is conspiring to assassinate Adolf Hitler.

Yes Man fell 10 percent this week, earning an estimated $22.4 million during the four-day weekend ($16.5 million for the three-day weekend). Will Smith’s Seven Pounds grossed $17.9 million ($13.4 million Fri, Sat, and Sun) and has earned $38.8 million total in 10 days. 

Also, The Spirit opened on Christmas day, bringing in a four-day total of only $10.4 million ($6.5 million Fri-Sun.) It appeared on 2,600 screens at 2,509 theaters. Director Frank Miller of 300 and Sin City creates a dark, mysterious film based on Will Eisner’s comic book series. It seems audiences did not go for the obscure story, and opted for the other new releases ahead of this super-hero flick.

Four Christmases slowed as the holiday season wound down, grossing $7.2 million over four days ($5 million for the three-day weekend). It has raked in $111.8 million total after five weeks in theaters. Bolt after six weeks in theaters finally crossed the $100 million mark, adding nearly $4.1 million over the four days for a grand total of $102.3 million.

Slumdog Millionaire was up 46 percent earning a four-day total of $5.6 million ($4.5 million over the three-day weekend) in 614 theaters. It continues to enjoy success as it opens up across the country. Playing in triple the number of theaters as Slumdog, Twilight grossed $4.5 million over the four-day weekend after debuting in theaters  six weeks ago. It now has a whopping domestic total of $167.1 million.

Revolutionary Road had the highest limited opening this week with $192,000 in just three theaters over the four-day weekend; an average of $64,000 per theater. Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio star in the drama based on Richard Yates novel of the same name. The film is directed by Winslet’s husband Sam Mendes and will have a wider release this coming week.

—Jessica Delli Santi