#1. "The Day the Earth Stood Still" ($31 million)
#2. "Four Christmases" ($13.3 million)
#3. "Twilight" ($8.01 million)
#4. "Bolt" ($7.51 million)
#5. "Australia" ($4.29 million)

20th Century Fox may have had a weak year at the box office -- but "The Day the Earth Stood Still" came through for them over the weekend, grossing $31 million domestically, and $70 million worldwide.

Then again, it was an easy weekend for "Earth," with only two new films to compete with -- Freddy Rodriguez and John Leguizamo's "Nothing Like the Holidays," which came in at #7 with $3.5 million, and the animated "Delgo," which brought in a sad $915,840, and didn't even crack the top ten. Read more...

The Box Office Top 5
#1. "Four Christmases" ($18.5 million)
#2. "Twilight" ($13.2 million)
#3. "Bolt" ($9.7 million)
#4 "Australia" ($7 million)
#5 "Quantum of Solace" ($6.6 million)

The top earners this weekend were all familiar faces, suggesting that post-Thanksgiving audiences prefer the warm and fuzzy fare to the blood and carnage offered by our big newcomer, "Punisher: War Zone." The latest Marvel flick only made it to the 8th spot, bringing in $4 million, the smallest opening yet for a Marvel film. That's a disappointing start for the Punisher reboot, and a bleak outlook for its continuation. Read more...

- Vin Diesel and Rob Cohen to go “XXX” again, as Columbia Pictures puts second sequel, “The Return of Xander Cage,” on the fast-track. (Variety)

- An extended, catch it before it gets taken down, preview for “The Day the Earth Stood Still” pops up online. (Fan Blog)

- Things we lost in the fire: Universal Studios reportedly set to re-open King Kong ride – only this time basing the experience on Peter Jackson’s re-make. (Jim Hill Media)

- Jack White turns red (with anger) over use of his Bond theme in Coke commercial. (BBC)

- The literary world lost a true genius over the weekend, but could David Foster Wallace’s death propel an “Infinite Jest” movie to the big-screen? (CHUD)

- Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn meet under the mistletoe in trailer for “Four Christmases.” Bonus Jon Favreau action included. (Yahoo)