'Avatar' Dominates Box Office with $73 Million

Movies making money.

Blue cat people from outer space dug their claws into the box office this weekend, as the special effects-laden Avatar finally arrived in theaters after months of buzz, gossip and speculation. But the film did not disappoint, raking in a whopping $73 million.

Despite a wicked storm currently barrelling down the east coast, movie-goers still managed to get out and see the epic sci-fi film.

As the movie event of the year, James Cameron's long-awaited CGI spectacle hit theaters with a tidal wave of marketing and advertisement. And that's not without just a tad of apprehension of the part of the film's creators --  Avatar cost well over $300 million to make. Of course, this opening weekend is a good start.

Finishing in second place this weekend was Disney's The Princess and the Frog, bringing in just over $12 million. The film is the legendary animation company's return to hand-drawn fare, and follows a young lady and her frog friend on an adventure through Louisiana's bayous.

Sandra Bullock's The Blind Side pulled in $10 million this weekend, bringing its total gross to $165 million. That makes it the highest grossing film of Bullock's career.

Rounding out the top five in box office cash-money makers were Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant's limp-wristed rom-com, Did You Hear About the Morgans? with $7 million, and everyone's favorite teen vampire saga, Twilight: New Moon, with $4.4 million.