Theaters were relatively empty this pre-Christmas weekend, although Jim Carrey and Will Smith’s star power was expected to draw audiences to the big screen. 

Yes Man, Jim Carrey’s new comedy, grossed an estimated $18.2 million on 5,000 screens in 3,434 theaters. Yes Man is strikingly similar to Carrey’s Liar Liar (2006), where he plays a divorce attorney who cannot tell a single lie. However, Yes Man centers on Carl Allen who joins a self-help group where he must say yes to everything for an entire year. Carrey is known for his wild antics and his in-your-face humor, but that typical Carrey draw apparently wasn't enough to attract movie goers who knew what to expect.

Seven Pounds stars Will Smith who plays an IRS agent who mysteriously changes the lives of seven strangers. It earned an estimated $16.0 million, which is Smith’s least popular opening since The Legend of Bagger Vance in 2000. Sony Pictures’ data showed 64 percent of audiences were over the age of 25 and 55 percent were female.  Pursuit of Happyness, which also starred Smith and director Gabriele Muccino opened last December with $26.5 million.

The popular children’s novel, The Tale of Despereaux came in third with $10.5 million on 3,600 screens in approximately 3,104 theaters.  This animated feature is the story of a heroic mouse with a big heart and will stop at nothing to save Princess Pea voiced by Emma Watson. Even with its all star cast (Matthew Broderick, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Watson, Tracey Ullman, Kevin Kline, William H. Macy, Stanley Tucci, Ciaran Hinds, Robbie Coltrane, Frances Conroy, Singourney Weaver, Christopher Lloyd, Frank Langella and Richard Jenkins) it grossed less than other rodent adventures such as Pixar’s Ratatouille (2007) and Stuart Little (1999). 

The Day the Earth Stood Still dropped by 66.7 percent, earning $10.2 million last weekend. The sc-fi remake starring Keanu Reeves is already fading fast after just two weeks on the big screen.

Four Christmases topped $100 million dollars by adding $7.7 million this weekend to bring its total to $100.2 million. It is the only holiday themed comedy and continues to win crowds over with its light-hearted humor provided by Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon.

Twilight holds strong in sixth place with $5.2 million for the weekend, and a total of $158.5 million in 31 days. Bolt continues to get shadowed by vampires and new releases, grossing $4.3 million this weekend for a total of $95.0 million after five weeks in theaters.

Slumdog Millionaire climbs up to eighth place this week from eleventh last week. It grossed $3.2 million playing in 589 theaters, up from 169 last week, giving it a 44.8 percent increase and $12.1 million in total over it's limited engagement.

Nothing but the Holidays plummeted its second week in theaters earning a mere $1.3 million, despite its seasonal theme of finding the joy of family during the Christmas season.

The Wrestler debuted this week in just four theaters, and grossed $209,000, which puts its theater average at a high $52,250. It has already been nominated for three Golden Globes and will be expanding its release in the upcoming weeks.

—Jessica Delli Santi