Hollywood eyes first $10 billion box office

Director of the movie James Cameron and his wife Suzy Amis pose at the premiere of ''Avatar'' at the Mann's Grauman Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California December 16, 2009.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Audiences have given Hollywood a big present in advance of Christmas, as U.S. and Canadian movie ticket sales for 2009 were expected to cross the $10 billion mark on Tuesday for the first time.

Through Sunday, the total U.S. and Canadian box office stood just $36 million short of crossing the $10 billion mark, said tracking firm Hollywood.com Box Office.

With Monday generating $29 million in ticket sales, led by strong results for "Avatar," the industry was expected to cross $10 billion on Tuesday.

"We're looking at some huge numbers for the next 10 days or so that will put us well over that $10 billion mark" for the full year, said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Hollywood.com Box Office.

Dergarabedian said he expected the 2009 total to come to more than $10.4 billion.

Last year's total was $9.63 billion.

Christmas Day is among the busiest days of the year for box offices. Ticket sales on Christmas Day last year was $76 million, and Dergarabedian said he expects this year's total to surpass that, with "Sherlock Holmes," "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" and comedy "It's Complicated" hitting theaters.

(Editing by Bob Tourtellotte and Mohammad Zargham)