Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean and Anne Hathaway as Fantine (l-r) in scene from movie "Les Miserables", Universal Pictures image
By Scott Bowles
USA Today
Two Christmas Day openers enjoyed a good holiday as Les Misérables and Django Unchained scored strong opening days.
The musical, starring Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway, took in a healthy $18.1 million, according to studio estimates.
REVIEW: 'Les Misérables' is luminous, enchanting
Django, Quentin Tarantino's spaghetti Western, also enjoyed a holiday bounty, raking in $15 million.
REVIEW: Wild Western 'Django Unchained' is pure Tarantino
The strong starts could help both movies with awards momentum, which can build quickly after a healthy debut with the public.
Both films claimed spots in the record books as Les Misérables and Django Unchained scored the second- and third-highest Christmas Day openings on record, respectively.
Sherlock Holmes holds the all-time record; it collected $24.6 million on Christmas Day 2009.
USA Today