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Sony Pictures took a big risk with Roland Emmerich and 2012, investing a reported $200 million in its production budget and many million more in marketing costs. After just three days the latest cinematic means to destroy our planet has made Emmerich's 10,000 B.C. blunder a distant memory and given Emmerich the boost he needs to move closer towards pushing an Independence Day sequel or two forward.

2012 burst onto the scene this past weekend by grossing an estimated $65 million domestically. It tacked on another $160 million internationally for a fat three-day worldwide take of $225 million and second straight winning gamble for Sony after Michael Jackson's This Is It.

The other new wide release, Pirate Radio, failed to crack the top 10 as it encountered rough seas stewed up by 2012 with $2.9 million in ticket sales. Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire soared past Pirate Radio into fourth place with $6.1 million despite playing on only 174 versus 882 screens.

Second place was gobbled up by A Christmas Carol with $22.3 million or a more than acceptable 26% drop from its opening weekend. The Men Who Stare At Goats held strong in its second weekend with $6.2 million and third place.

The complete weekend box office results for November 13 - 15 are as follows:

1. 2012: $65m
2. A Christmas Carol (2009): $22.3m
3. The Men Who Stare At Goats: $6.2m
4. Precious: $6.1m
5. Michael Jackson's This Is It: $5.1m
6. The Fourth Kind: $4.7m
7. Couples Retreat: $4.3m
8. Paranormal Activity: $4.2m
9. Law Abiding Citizen: $3.9m
10. The Box: $3.2m

The Twilight Saga: New Moon is expected to howl strongly next weekend and could possibly rewrite the November opening weekend record book. It will square off against The Blind Side sports drama with Sandra Bullock and Sony's animated adventure Planet 51.