Some exciting news today! The Book of Eli has according to this article at Hitfix beat Avatar on the box-office on it’s premiere day January 15. Read more below!

Knocking “Avatar” off its box office perch is no easy task, but Denzel Washington’s “The Book of Eli” accomplished that feat on Friday.

The post-apocalyptic thriller gave Washington his second best opening Friday after “American Gangster” with a strong $11.7 million. That’s pretty impressive considering “Eli’s” R-rating and the competition from “Avatar.” The Hughes Brothers’ latest looks like it will do anywhere from $40-45 million for the four-day Martin Luther King Day weekend which means recouping its reported $80 million budget should be an easy task. In fact, “Eli’s” expected success along with “The Blind Side’s” massive box office take makes longtime background player Alcon Entertainment the industry’s brightest star at the moment (someone might need a raise over there).

As for “Avatar,” don’t cry for Jim Cameron’s epic blockbuster. The PG-13 picture still made $10.4 million on Friday and could still make a comeback opposite “Eli” when all is said and done. The Oscar contender’s current domestic take is a staggering $460.9 million as it sets “Titanic’s” record $600 million tally within its sights.

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