Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston competed against each other at the Christmas box office and although only one of them could claim the first position, they both were winners in the long run.

 

Jennifer Aniston’s latest movie, “Marley & Me,” opened at No. 1 on Christmas Day with $14.8 million in ticket sales. The pleasant film co-starring Owen Wilson tells the hilarious story of a young family and a playful dog that helped the David Frankel-helmed production see the highest one-day total ever for a movie debuting on Christmas.

 

Brad Pitt’s “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” scored big as well, although it did not manage to outshine the vehicle of the actor’s ex-wife.

 

The movie directed by David Fincher concentrates on the love story between a man who ages in reverse (Brad Pitt) and a woman who follows the usual aging trajectory, played by Cate Blanchett. The film set the record for the second-highest Christmas debut of all-time with an impressive $11.8 million.

 

According to Variety, both movies surpassed box office expectations by 40-50 percent.

 

Adam Sandler’s family flick “Bedtime Stories” also saw a good opening with about $10.5 million in ticket sales. The movie came in third on Christmas Day but may actually outdo “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” for the long holiday weekend.

 

“Valkyrie,” a World War II epic that focuses on the would-be assassin of Adolf Hitler, registered a remarkable one-day gross of approximately $8.5 million, while Frank Miller’s “The Spirit” was defeated by lackluster reviews and took in only $4 million during its opening day.