5 weeks at No. 1 for 'Avatar'

Nothing can stop Jame Cameron's 3-D sci-fi epic. "Avatar" topped the box office this weekend with an estimated $41.3 million, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com

In the process, "Avatar" jumped to No. 3 on the all-time box-office list, behind "The Dark Knight" and Cameron's previous smash, "Titanic."

Two big films opened this weekend -- "The Book of Eli" and "The Lovely Bones" -- but neither came close to knocking "Avatar" from its perch.

WEEKEND TOP 5 STUDIO ESTIMATES, JANUARY 15-17, 2010

Rank. Movie Title (Distributor)
Weekend Gross | Theaters | Total Gross | Week #

1. Avatar (Fox)
$41.3 million | 3,285 | $491.8 million | 5

2. The Book of Eli (Warner Bros.)
$31.6 million | 3,111 | $31.6 million | 1

3. The Lovely Bones (Paramount (DreamWorks))
$17.1 million | 2,563 | $17.5 million | 6

4. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (Fox)
$11.5 million | 3,296 | $192.6 million | 4

5. Sherlock Holmes (Warner Bros.)
$9.8 million | 3,173 | $180.0 million | 4

For a look at some of the hot releases planned for early 2010, visit www.boxofficemojo.com