For the third week in a row, The Avengers dominated the box office. Marvel’s superheroes added another $55 million to their domestic total – putting the film over $450 million in a record-breaking seventeen days. Meanwhile, the three new releases that lined up to challenge The Avengers all struggled in the blockbuster’s wake.

There was good news to go around this weekend as each of the four major studio releases opened to over $20 million.  That is an almost unheard of feat on any weekend, let alone a non-holiday-enhanced weekend in February. Overall, the box office looks to finish up 25% from last year’s post-Super Bowl frame to provide 2012 its sixth win in a row.

New Year’s Eve is the new number one movie in America; but with one of the lowest first-place debuts of the year, Warner Brothers may not feel like toasting their success.  The studio’s follow-up to last year’s Valentine’s Day estimated just $13.7 million from 3,505 locations, or 76% lower than its predecessor’s first weekend total.

It’s no surprise that New Year’s Eve was the number one movie in America on Friday: after all, the holiday-themed anthology pic was the rightful heir-apparent after The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn’s impressive three week reign at the top.  What is surprising is how dismal the estimates for the new romantic ensemble are looking.  Far from the robust start that Valentine’s Day saw last February, New Year’s Eve posted just $5.1 million from 3,505 locations.  That means that the star-stuffed confection can now expect a three-day total of $14.5 million – equivalent to Valentine’s Day first Friday and only half of what the studio was hoping for.  Expectations for the weekend’s other new release, The Sitter, were more modest, but even those are proving hard to meet.  The R-rated comedy made an estimated $3.7 million on Friday from 2,750 locations for what should be a weekend total of just over $10 million.  So it looks like last weekend’s record-setting low grosses have decided to stick around: Happy Holidays Hollywood!

After taking first place on Friday by just half a million dollars, the PG-13 thriller Unknown managed to strengthen its hold on the top spot despite the Saturday surge of the week-old family film Gnomeo and Juliet.  Once again, the estimates within the top five are pretty close, which means that these numbers are likely to change by the time the four-day President’s Day weekend wraps up on Monday night.

Weekend box office reports rely on estimated numbers and, as of Sunday morning, the estimates are just too close to call a definitive winner.  The way it looks at the moment, Adam Sandler’s Just Go With It is slightly ahead of the Justin Bieber: Never Say Never: $31 million to $30.3 million.  The crowning of the number one film, therefore, may have to wait until official totals are released on Monday morning.

After just one weekend of excitement surrounding the release of The Green Hornet, the box office reverted to more modest numbers this weekend.  As the week’s sole new release the romantic comedy No Strings Attached came out on top, bringing in a higher than expected total estimated at $20.3 million from its 3,018 locations.

I guess, these days, one bad idea deserves another.  Allow me to provide an example.  The first bad idea came when Garry Marshall announced that he was attempting to bring Laverne & Shirley, his popular Happy Days spin-off from the 1970s, to the big screen.  The second bad idea was revealed to TV Guide earlier this week.  Garry Marshall announced that Jamie Foxx was writing the script, and as we reported last month, his Valentine’s Day co-stars Jennifer Garner and Jessica Biel would star the title roles, respectively. Here’s the word from Marshall:

“Jamie and I are trying to do it. He’s writing it. It’s a whole different modern day take on how they came up on the streets during difficult times. Laverne would be this very tough girl with a big ‘L’ tattooed on her arm. Jennifer Garner would play Laverne and Jessica Biel would play Shirley.”

To me, ideas like this one seem to be the formula for a box office bomb.  However, in this situation, I wouldn’t actually mind being proven wrong. Here’s to hoping I am.

[Update: The Wrap got in touch with Foxx's agent who said there's "no truth" to the story.]

To no one’s surprise Shutter Island, director Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio’s latest collaboration, claimed the number one spot on the domestic box office chart this weekend. What may have been a bit of a surprise, however, was just how well the thriller actually did.

It seems that every week of 2010 has brought us a new record-breaker at the box office. Last week the romantic drama Dear John became the top earner on a Super Bowl weekend. Only slightly more impressive was the month-long reign of Avatar during which the 3D titan took down nearly every all-time box office category Hollywood could throw at it.  This weekend saw yet another record fall. Valentine’s Day, director Garry Marshall’s star-packed romantic comedy, has already become the highest grossing film over President’s Day weekend – before Monday’s numbers have even been counted.

It looks like moviegoers have finally exhausted their supply of Avatar-only interest. Yes, after a sleepy start to 2010 in which new titles were routinely overlooked in favor of Fox’s big, blue behemoth, this weekend’s three debuts have all gotten off to a profitable start; pushing Avatar down to fourth place for the first time since… ever. So far, Friday’s estimates put WB’s Valentine’s Day comfortably in front with $14.6 million – a record debut for a comedy on President’s Day weekend. Meanwhile, fellow newcomers Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief and The Wolfman were nearly tied on Friday with an estimated $9.7 and $9.8 million, respectively. Expect Percy to pull out ahead by Saturday, however, as the younger generation descends on theatres during this extended four-day weekend.

Like the eponymous holiday, Valentine’s Day hates you if you’re single.  Being single is the worst thing you can be.  It’s not really too surprising that a movie called “Valentine’s Day” wouldn’t have miserable, bitter single people moping around for two hours, but with all the storylines and characters in the film, would one cynic be too much?  I didn’t expect Valentine’s Day to warm my cold, dead heart but I also didn’t expect it to call me a sad bitch for two hours.  Thankfully, there are one or two worthwhile stories in this bargain-basement tapestry of love fairy tales.  But it is uplifting to see a movie fully explore the beauty of gorgeous straight white people finding love in a city as diverse as Los Angeles.

Earlier in the week we reported that the fast approaching Valentine’s Day may inspire a franchise of holiday-themed romantic comedies, but that may not be the only lasting effect the film has on cinema.  Valentine’s director Garry Marshall created the classic sitcom Laverne & Shirley, which starred Cindy Williams and Garry’s sister Penny Marshall (reprising their characters from Happy Days) as Milwaukee brewery workers.  Mario Lopez of Extra talked to Marshall at the premiere for his new movie, who claimed that a film adaptation may be in the works.   More after the jump:

The romantic comedy Valentine’s Day is a veritable who’s who of Hollywood, with a cast that includes Julia Roberts, Jennifer Garner, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Jamie Foxx, Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Alba, Anne Hathaway, Topher Grace, George Lopez, Shirley Maclaine, Hector Elizondo, Taylor Swift, Taylor Lautner and Emma Roberts, just to name a few. And the man responsible for getting all that talent together is director Garry Marshall, who the all-star ensemble was excited to work with.

Following the intertwining storylines of a diverse group of Los Angelenos as they navigate their way through romance and heartbreak over the course of one Valentine’s Day, the film showcases new love, young love, long-time love, the love between best friends and the heartbreak that can result.

During a press conference for the film, co-stars Julia Roberts, Jennifer Garner, Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Bradley Cooper, Jamie Foxx, Ashton Kutcher and Topher Grace talked about love, romance and living in Los Angeles.

Check out what they had to say after the jump:

New Line must have some serious faith in their upcoming romantic comedy anthology, Valentine’s Day, because they’re already planning a spin-off called New Year’s Eve.  According to Variety, VD director Garry Marshall is expected to return to helm NYE, with producers Mike Karz and Wayne Rice returning along with screenwriter Katherine Fugate.  New Year’s Eve would include some characters from Valentine’s Day and presumably follow these characters on Flag Day.  Possibly Arbor Day.  New Year’s Eve is expected to shoot at the end of this year for a late 2011 release.

Valentine’s Day has a massive cast featuring Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Eric Dane, Patrick Dempsey, Hector Elizondo, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace, Anne Hathaway, Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah, Taylor Lautner, George Lopez, Shirley MacLaine, Emma Roberts, Julia Roberts, and Taylor Swift.  Hit the jump for a brief synopsis and click here to check out twelve clips from the film.  Valentine’s Day hits theaters on February 12th.