1 – Avatar (released 4-22-10), 8,356,154 units sold, $147,540,922 in sales revenue

2 – The Twilight Saga: New Moon (released 3-20-10), 7,445,525 units sold, $164,684,139 in sales revenue

3 – The Blind Side (released 3-23-10), 5,435,408 units sold, $87,583,307 in sales revenue

4 – Iron Man 2 (released 9-28-10), 4,481,781 units sold, $100,721,218 in sales revenue

5 – The Princess and the Frog (released 3-16-10), 4,307,477 units sold, $68,947,833 in sales revenue

6 - Alice in Wonderland (2010) (released 6-1-10), 4,060,329 units sold, $72,820,552 in sales revenue

7 – Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (released 3-30-10), 4,024,193 units sold, $66,818,833 in sales revenue

8 – The Hangover (released 12-15-09), 3,351,500 units sold, $54,466,559 in sales revenue

9 – How to Train Your Dragon (released 10-15-10), 3,292,534 units sold, $70,396,979 in sales revenue

10 – 2012 (released 3-2-10), 2,953,274 units sold, $51,225,663 in sales revenue

Should be no surprise to see Avatar, New Moon, or Iron Man 2 on here, but Alvin and the Chpimunks? The Blind Side? C’mon, people! It’s also interesting to see The Princess and the Frog on this list, because Disney claimed it wasn’t the hit they were expecting. I would be interested in seeing an updated list, with Blu-ray sales.

Source: DVDTown

Sadly, one of my personal favorite films from last year was The Princess and the Frog, yet that was a bit of a box office failure. Too bad, because its wonderful blend of old school charm and animation was superb. Tangled was renamed after its original title failed to excite many at Disney, which was called Rapunzel. We shall see in November how this will all play out, as Disney is looking for a non-Pixar hit.

Their Toy Story 3, by the way, was a billion dollar success.

Source: AOL

Best Direct-to-DVD Horror Film: Laid to Rest (read the original review here)

Best Wide Release Horror Film: (TIE) Zombieland (read the original review here); The Collector (read the original review here).

Best Documentary: The Cove (read the original review here)

Best Limited Release Film: Medicine for Melancholy (read the original review here)

Honorable Mention Films: Che (here), The Girlfriend Experience (here), Coraline (here), Food, Inc. (here), and Observe and Report (here).

And now (insert drum roll) my Best Films of 2009, all in alphabetical order:

(500) Days of Summer

You know ladies, guys can be crushed from break-ups as well, as this film does so wonderfully well to depict. A great soundtrack, a clever premise and construction of the falling in and then out of love, with two solid leads, makes for one superb film.

Antichrist

Brutal, sickening, demented, and sorely misunderstood. There are images here so talked about, that will never leave your memory, but Von Trier gives us more than some gore scenes. The story of a couple’s descent into depression is harrowing, yet beautifully photographed. One of the prettiest films of the year, as well as, a borderline masterpiece. A modern Salo: Or, the 120 Days of Sodom. (read the original review here)

Avatar

I was one of this film’s biggest skeptics, until I saw it in the glorious IMAX 3-D. Say what you will about it’s simple story arc, it’s the event of the film, with the scope of Cameron’s vision, that makes the culture of aliens so appealing. This is what the Star Wars prequels should have been: a spectacle of effects, story, and event. (read the original review here)

Goodbye Solo

An intimate film about a friendship and tragedy and hope. Some superb acting, with Ramin Bahrani’s distinct direction. A small film in terms of budget, but a great film that I hope finds some Oscar love. (read the original review here)

Hunger

Riveting and heart-wrenching, a film I’m sure many of you haven’t caught theatrically. Please get the Criterion DVD soon, because you’ll be treat to some astounding filmmaking of the Irish Hunger Strike. There’s a 25 minute scene done in one take that is as powerful, as any 90 minute feature. (read the original review here)

The Hurt Locker

In a star making role, Jeremy Renner anchors this unique Iraq war film, that doesn’t parade heroism. Some people are just war junkies, and this film explores the why. (read the original review here)

Inglourious Basterds

Tarantino’s best script.  Granted the whole Mike Myers sequence could have been deleted, the first 45 minutes are so good, who cares? Funny, epic, a sprawling American fantasy of how WWII should have ended. (read my original review here)

The Messenger

A heart-breaking look at the team sent out to notify loved ones that their kin has died in war. Ben Foster is excellent, as is the under-appreciated Samantha Morton. (read the original review here)

The Princess and the Frog

Disney return to the Princess formula and cell animation is a stunning showcase of wonderful animation, great songs, and great storytelling. Pixar is not needed this time. (read the original review here)

Up in the Air

A keen look at both our economic woes and a man finding redemption, makes for a comedy that could nab the one Oscar, comedies don’t win: Best Picture.

What are you favorites from this year? Feel free to leave a comment!

(December 4th)

Armored

Jon: With this film, people will really be watching the director Nimrod Antal, since he has been tapped for next summer’s Predators. For this film, it looks okay, pretty standard issue. The whole rookie cop being taught by the veteran, who is doing something dirty has been played out to death. This is no Training Day, and even with a solid cast, I say Skip It

Donny: I’m gonna do something that I don’t normally do, I’m going to agree with Jon. I really have no interest in seeing this flick, so I’m going to flex the old editor muscles and assign it to someone other than myself. Skip It

Everybody’s Fine

Jon: Here’s a Christmas themed film, but one that isn’t a goofball or slapstick comedy. Robert De Niro is getting good buzz for a change, and with Sam Rockwell as his estranged son, we might have a solid drama this month. On an impromptu trip to visit his son and daughter, who he seems to think are living splendid lives, he discovers that’s further from the truth. See It

Donny: I think the world just might be coming to an end earlier than 2012, because I once again, I agree with Jon. This looks like it could be a solid drama and a return to form for De Niro. See It

Brothers

Jon: This could be really interesting, even if it has that smell of being Oscar bait (I hate that term by the way). Tobey Maguire comes home after being a P.O.W. in Afghanistan, to find his wife (Natalie Portman) thinks she’s a window, and his ex-con of a brother (Jake Gyllenhaal) has become the man of the house to her. With 8 Mile‘s director on board, we might have a really damn fine drama here. See It

Donny: I am extremely excited to see this flick. Maguire looks really creepy in the trailer, Gyllenhaal looks perfect for his part, and Portman is always hot. I’ll be there on opening day. See It

Translymania

Jon: Looks worse than a direct-to-TV movie, totally stupid. Skip It if you enjoy a healthy 20/20 vision in your eyes.

Donny: Finally! Jon doesn’t know what he’s talking about! This flick looks like something that I haven’t seen in the theatre for a very long time.  Good, cheesy fun! I can’t wait to see this flick and even if it sucks hard I’m gonna be in the theatre on opening night just to send a message to the studios, saying that I want my goofy cheese with a side of popcorn!

(December 11th)

The Princess and the Frog

Jon: Disney’s return to traditional cell animation has me all sorts of happy. It looks superb, but why have people disregard the fact that this is Disney’s first black princess? I don’t find anything wrong; timing does seem obvious, but the characters look like reinterpreted Disney favs, the Southern flavor feels right, and the animation looks amazing. If people are smart, this will be a decent size hit for the Mouse House. See It

Donny: Disney + Traditional Animation = See It

Invictus

Jon: How does Clint Eastwood do it at his age? Here’s another marvelous film starring Matt Damon as a rugby player that has been tapped by the President of South Africa (Morgan Freeman) to win the country a World Cup to unite the country. Should be typical Clint, which means See It.

Donny: Once again I agree with Jon. I love Eastwood’s flicks and I am eagerly waiting to see this one. See It

The Lovely Bones

Jon: Let me get this out of the way: I’m not a fan of Peter Jackson. Yes, The Lord of the Rings were great, but his zombie flicks weren’t anything special, and for my money, the only real film I loved by him was The Frighteners. If this picture is near 3 hours, I cannot go; I’ve dedicated too many hours of my life to Jackson, and King Kong was the deal breaker for me. No more 3 hour films, Peter! It looks decent, but it isn’t moving me like it has others in my field. In a rare switcharoo, I’m telling Donny to see it, so I can Skip It.

Donny: I’m starting to worry. I not only agree with Jon about the 3 hour flicks, but I really don’t care for Jackson’s movies. Actually, I can’t stand them. I’d rather watch paint dry than suffer through The Lord of the Rings again, so I’m going to pull an even more complex switcharoo than the one Jon just pulled and tell Jason to see it so that I can Skip It.

(December 18th)

Avatar

Jon: I should be excited for James Cameron’s return to sci-fi after a decade long absence. Terminator, Aliens, True Lies, The Abyss, and of course, Terminator 2: Judgment Day rock. This look like we’ve seen it before, but the CG looks marvelous, I’m sure the 3-D should rule, so why am I ho-hum? Maybe because it looks like Episode I? I doubt if this will be some breakthrough for cinema, like many have claimed, and I would skip it, yet I’m too interested in his return. See It.

Donny: I can’t stand 3D in theatrical flicks unless it’s just background work or adding to traditional VFX. I really hate 3D characters! I really, really, really  hate 3D characters. Put an actor in a suit and call it a day. Sorry James. Skip It.

Did You Hear About the Morgans?

Jon: My uncle said it best: “Why would anyone want to see that? They show you the entire movie in the trailer!” Skip It.

Donny: I can live without this flick. Skip It

Nine

Jon: A musical about 8 1/2? Huh….but apparently, it was a hit on Broadway, and this film has an outstanding cast. If there’s anything Oscar bait worthy this month (Lord, I hate that term!) it is this.It expands wider on Christmas, but who doesn’t want to see Daniel Day-Lewis sing and dance? I drink your….MILKSHAKE! See It.

Donny: I’m not really into musicals so once again I’m going to say Skip It.

(December 25th)

Sherlock Holmes

Jon: While Guy Ritchie might seem like an odd choice for a studio big budgeted potential franchise, he’ll bring the very British element to Holmes that many would not. This could be the big summer blockbuster we didn’t get this year, as Robert Downey Jr. looks to be a perfect fit for a younger Holmes, and while I had doubts about Jude Law as Watson, after the recent trailers, I do not anymore. Should be a rough, gritty, fun ride. See It.

Donny: This is the flick I’m most excited about this winter. I can’t wait to see Guy Ritchie rock Holmes like we’ve never seen him rocked before. See It

The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus

Jon: The film that will be known to all as Oscar-winner Heath Ledger’s last starring role he did before his untimely death. While Terry Gilliam had to use some inventive tricks to fill in the film’s fantasy elements where Ledger would go into a different dimension (namely adding Colin Farrell, Johnny Depp, and Jude Law), those hoping for a masterpiece might be best to at least accept a return to form for Gilliam. One of my most anticipated. See It.

Donny: Stellar cast and Gilliam behind the camera! See It

It’s Complicated

Jon: If you are like my mother, 50 years of age, then maybe. But I have no desire to see Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin have sex-numerous times-with Meryl Streep. Skip It.

Donny: I really don’t want to see this so I’m going to Skip It.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel

Jon: First, your ears start to bleed. Then your head feels some incredible pressure. You put your hands to hold the throbbing headache, only to have your head explode Scanners-style. Skip It

Donny: I really want to Skip It, but because my kids loved the first one I’m gonna have to See It.

That’s it for our winter Preview: December, we’ll see you here next month!