Dear John, Avatar got kicked out of NO.1 position.

// February 8th, 2010 // What's Poppin

Sony-quarterbacked “Dear John” thwarted a drive by James Cameron’s “Avatar” for an eighth No. 1 weekend, as the over-achieving romantic drama’s wily counter-programming play scored an estimated $32.4 million in opening domestic boxoffice during Super Bowl weekend.

“Avatar” posted a $23.6 million tally to grab second place on the frame, just days after receiving nine Oscar nominations. The sci-fi epic — which this week became the top-grossing domestic release ever, after previously setting foreign and global records — lifted its cumulative boxoffice to $630.1 million domestically and $2.21 billion worldwide.

Lionsgate’s “From Paris With Love,” starring John Travolta and Jonathan Rhys Meyers, was sacked by Americans’ preoccupation with the pro football telecast, as the crime thriller bowed limply with $8.1 million in third place