According to early estimates, Guy Ritchie’s “Sherlock Holmes” demolished the previous Christmas Day opening box office record for North America and beat last week’s premiere of James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ at $23.5 million, ‘Sherlock Holmes’ took in $24.9 million on Christmas Day – Friday, Dec. 25. On Wednesday, December 23rd – ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks The Squeakquel’ had a first-day estimated total of $20 million, besting James Cameron’s Avatar as well, which managed to earn just $16 million that day.

The record for a Christmas Day opening was set last year when “Marley and Me” launched with $14.4 million.