Fewer people went to the movies the last two weekends than during the box-office hush that followed the Sept. 11 attacks 10 years ago.
Domestic revenues tumbled to a 2011 low of about $77 million this weekend, when the star-filled, holiday-themed romance "New Year's Eve" debuted at No. 1 with a weak $13.7 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The movie stars Hilary Swank, Robert De Niro, Halle Berry, Ashton Kutcher and Sarah Jessica Parker among other big names.
Jonah Hill's comedy "The Sitter" opened at No. 2 with just $10 million.
"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" fell to No. 3 with an estimated $7.9 million.
"The Muppets" and "Arthur Christmas" rounded out the top five.
The top 10 movies of the weekend were:
1. "New Year's Eve," $13.7 million ($12.9 million
international).
2. "The Sitter," $10 million.
3. "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1," $7.9 million.
4. "The Muppets," $7.1 million ($1.2 million international).
5. "Arthur Christmas," $6.6 million ($14.3 million
international).
6. "Hugo," $6.1 million.
7. "The Descendants," $4.4 million.
8. "Happy Feet Two," $3.8 million.
9. "Jack and Jill," $3.2 million.
10. "Immortals," $2.4 million.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
