Top 10, opening this week

TOP 10

1. Four Christmases ($31.7 million)

2. Bolt ($26.6 million)

3. Twilight ($26.4 million)

4. Quantum of Solace ($19.5 million)

5. Australia ($14.8 million)

6. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa ($14.5 million)

7. Transporter 3 ($12.3 million)

8. Role Models ($5.3 million)

9. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas ($1.7 million)

10. Milk ($1.4 million)

OPENING THIS WEEK

Cadillac Records

The rise and fall of blues label Chess Records, which launched the careers of Muddy Waters, Etta James and Chuck Berry.

Punisher: War Zone

Marvel Comics’ ruthless vigilante-hero Frank Castle returns to wage his one-man war on the world of organized crime.

QUOTABLE

“It is unbelievable that a movie has touched the lives of millions of families.”

— PHIL GILLEN, son of the late actor, Jeff Gillen, (far left) who played the 1983 movie’s worn-out Santa Claus in “A Christmas Story.” The holiday classic is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year

REEL NEWS

Megan Mullally, Kelsey Grammer, Charles S. Dutton, Bebe Neuwirth and Debbie Allen have been tenured. The quintet has been chosen to fill out the administrative and teaching roles in MGM and Lakeshore Entertainment’s remake of “Fame.”

Choreographer Kevin Tancharoen will direct the reinvention of the 1980 musical about a group of dancers, singers, actors and artists trying to survive four years at the prestigious New York City High School of Performing Arts.

The film has scheduled a Sept. 25 release date.

All five actors have noteworthy performing arts backgrounds. Mullally, who will play a voice instructor, graduated from the School of American Ballet; Grammer, who will play an orchestra conductor, attended Juilliard; Dutton, who will play an acting teacher, went to the Yale School of Drama; and Neuwirth, who will play a dance teacher, has won two Tonys. Allen, who played dance teacher Lydia Grant in the original film, will appear in the updated version as Principal Simms.

COMING FILMS

Dec. 12

“The Day the Earth Stood Still”

“Delgo”

“Nothing Like the Holidays”

“Dark Streets” (limited)

“The Class” (limited)

“Doubt” (limited)

“Timecrimes” (limited)

Dec. 17

“Gran Torino” (limited)

“The Wrestler” (limited)

Dec. 19

“The Brothers Bloom”

“Seven Pounds”

“The Tale of Despereaux”

“Yes Man”

“Nothing But the Truth” (limited)

Dec. 25

“Bedtime Stories”

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

“Marley & Me”

“The Spirit”

“Valkyrie”

“Last Chance Harvey” (limited)

“Waltz with Bashir” (limited)

Dec. 26

“Revolutionary Road” (limited)

Dec. 31

“Defiance” (limited)

Jan. 9

“Bride Wars”

“Not Easily Broken”

“The Unborn”

Jan. 16

“Hotel for Dogs”

“My Bloody Valentine 3-D”

“Paul Blart: Mall Cop”

“Notorious” (limited)

Jan. 23

“Inkheart”

“Possession”

“Underworld: Rise of the Lycans”

“Donkey Punch” (limited)

“Killshot” (limited)

Jan. 30

“New in Town”

“Taken”

“The Uninvited”

“The Class” (limited)