Four Christmases tops the US box office

It's true what they say about Christmas: you really can sell any old shit, and people will come flocking. That proved to be the case this weekend in America, as despite reviews you could kindly describe as 'hostile', and talk of how its two stars couldn't stand working with each other, Four Christmases somehow clawed its way to the top of the US box office.

The film, starring Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon (and for Vaughn, it's his second tepid Yuletide flick in as many years), ruled the Thanksgiving box office roost, with a take of $31.7m, which is kindly being regarded as above expectations. Its total is already at just shy of $47m, Meanwhile, last week's juggernaut, Twilight, which took $69m last weekend, ended up in second place with $26.4m this time around, although it's already cleared the $100m mark ($120m and counting). It's earned its money, and the sequel goes before the cameras in March, apparently. Woo-hoo!

Meanwhile, Baz Luhrmann's Oscar-baiting Australia had a decent start, although it's going to need some buzz to overcome the lukewarm reviews it's enjoyed to date. Its $14.8m take on its first weekend is below what some were expecting, but the film is expected to have legs. Fox certainly hopes so, having spent around $130m on the picture.

Finally, before our full box office round-up when the final numbers are available on Tuesday, the third Transporter movie has effectively ended the cinematic outings for the franchise. It pulled in, according to early reports, just over $10m over the weekend. Ah, it's been a good run...