Breaking the 100 Million Mark Again

In 2009, during the Christmas season, two films—Sherlock Holmes and Mouse Lamb 2—were released on the same weekend, attempting to challenge the reigning box office giant, Avatar. Despite their efforts, both films failed to surpass Avatar, and neither claimed the top spot at the North American box office. However, the competition between these two films was fierce, and it led to a notable box office battle.

On the opening weekend, Sherlock Holmes had the edge, but in terms of sustained performance, Shu Lai Bao 2 took the lead. Ultimately, Shu Lai Bao 2 narrowly won at the North American box office. Internationally, however, Sherlock Holmes benefited from the star power of Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, outpacing its competitor in total global earnings.

Both films earned over $200 million in North America and more than $450 million globally, making their releases a success for all involved.

In December 2011, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows and Mouse Laibao 3 once again faced off in the third week of the month, alongside Mission Impossible 4, resulting in an intense box office rivalry.

The industry's eyes were on this week, with expectations high for a major showdown. However, both sequels disappointed. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows grossed just $39 million during its opening weekend, a significant drop from the previous film's $62 million. Similarly, Mouse Laibao 3 underperformed with $23 million, more than half of the $48 million it had earned in its second installment.

The weak performance of these films raised questions about the overall holiday season market, which had seemed lackluster. However, Mission Impossible 4, despite a limited release in only 425 theaters, grossed $12.8 million, an impressive figure for its small scale. This success reignited interest in Tom Cruise's career, following several years of setbacks. It also marked the debut of Pixar director Brad Bird in live-action filmmaking, setting expectations high for the upcoming Star Wars film by fellow Pixar director Andrew Stanton.

Meanwhile, Anti-Cancer Me emerged as a surprising box office winner. Despite facing competition from three new releases, it experienced a minor decline of just 35% in its third week, a remarkable feat for a small-budget independent comedy. The film went on to exceed $90 million in cumulative earnings, a staggering 11 times its production budget, solidifying its status as the holiday season's biggest box office underdog.

By the third week of December, Shadow Games topped the box office, with Mouse Laibao 3 taking second place. Anti-Cancer Me rounded out the top three, while Mission Impossible 4 took fourth based on its impressive theater data. New Year's Eve, which had experienced a 45% drop in box office revenue, fell to fifth.

Despite a relatively poor performance from many films, Anti-Cancer Me stood out, continuing to exceed expectations. By the end of the holiday season, it was well on its way to becoming one of the year's most successful films, though there were still questions about its long-term performance. Would it become a sleeper hit like Juno or Little Miss Sunshine, both of which saw substantial box office success followed by critical acclaim during the awards season?

As Christmas approached, Mission Impossible 4 remained the dominant force at the North American box office, while several films with strong potential for awards season success—including Steven Spielberg's The Adventures of Tintin and War Horse, as well as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo—also entered the market.

The awards season was about to begin, and it brought with it fierce competition. Unfortunately, many films saw disappointing results, with several major releases underperforming in their opening weekends. Shadow Games experienced a 49% drop in its second week, while Mouse Laibao 3 dropped by 45%. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo grossed just $12 million in its debut, and The Adventures of Tintin earned $9.7 million, with My Family Bought a Zoo opening at $9.3 million.

Despite the overall weak performance of most films, Mission Impossible 4 and Anti-Cancer Me continued to exceed expectations. By the end of its fourth week, Anti-Cancer Me had surpassed $100 million, joining the ranks of Fast & Furious 5 and Crazy Love as one of the few films to hit that milestone within the same calendar year. This achievement was impressive, especially since it occurred during a generally sluggish holiday season.

On Christmas Day, Mission Impossible 4 earned $14 million, while Anti-Cancer Me grossed $9 million. Despite its two-week run, Anti-Cancer Me performed admirably, securing its place as the holiday season's surprise box office winner.

By the end of the year, Anti-Cancer Me had earned $116 million, and it seemed poised to surpass Crazy Love's North American box office earnings. Whether it would follow in the footsteps of Juno and Little Miss Sunshine and continue to gain momentum during the awards season remained to be seen.

With its unexpected success, Anti-Cancer Me became the breakout film of the 2011 holiday season, a testament to the unpredictable nature of the box office and the power of word-of-mouth.