End-of-Run Report: Case Closed on 'Sherlock Holmes'
After 126 days in theaters, Sherlock Holmes ended its highly successful run last Thursday, April 29. Another Jude Law movie, Repo Men, also shut down recently, albeit to drastically lower total sales.

Starring Robert Downey Jr. as the titular detective and Law as his associate Watson, Sherlock Holmes closed with just over $209 million. Its run began Dec. 25, where its $24.6 million opening day set the record for the highest-grossing Christmas Day ever. By the end of the weekend, Holmes was up to $62.3 million, though that wasn't quite enough to knock Avatar out of the top spot. In fact, Sherlock Holmes never reached No. 1 on any weekend, making it the all-time fourth-highest grossing bridesmaid, behind My Big Fat Greek Wedding ($241.4 million), Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel ($219.6 million) and Alvin and the Chipmunks ($217.3 million).

Sherlock Holmes's $209 million was good for tenth place among 2009 releases and 92nd on the all-time chart. Add in more than $300 million overseas, and Sherlock Holmes places 70th on the all-time worldwide list. Sherlock Holmes is also a career best for Law and director Guy Ritchie, while coming in second place on Downey, Jr.'s list behind the first Iron Man.

While Downey, Jr.'s follow-up to Sherlock Holmes, Iron Man 2, is all but assured to be a box office smash, Law's next feature was a major step in the wrong direction. Repo Men, featuring Law and Forest Whitaker, closed Thursday, April 22 with $13.8 million, or a little over half what Sherlock Holmes made on its opening day alone. While high-concept futuristic thrillers rarely find substantial audiences, Repo Men even managed to underperform compared to similar movies Paycheck ($53.8 million), The Island ($35.8 million) and Children of Men ($35.5 million). This was also distributor Universal Pictures' fourth consecutive misfire in 2010, following Leap Year ($25.9 million), The Wolfman ($62 million) and Green Zone ($35 million).

The Young Victoria also completed its run last Thursday, April 29. After 133 days in limited release, the period drama bowed out with just over $11 million.

Opening Weekend Reports

Sherlock Holmes

Repo Men


Previous End-of-Run Reports

'Up in the Air,' 'When in Rome' Grounded

'Edge' Goes Dark, 'Mr. Fox' Stopped

'New Moon' Sets, 'Wolfman' Leashed

Related Charts

• 2009 Grosses

• 2010 Grosses