Sonoma County film fans flock to theaters

<p>For Jessica Klein and her family, the line to see “Avatar” Sunday outside a downtown Santa Rosa theater stretched nearly to Windsor.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>That’s where the Healdsburg veterinarian first tried to buy tickets to the 3D epic. After waiting in line for an hour outside the Airport Stadium 12, she was told it was sold out.</p><p>So the fivesome drove south to Santa Rosa, where they got tickets at the Roxy Stadium 14 — but were waiting two hours for the next showing.</p><p>“My younger brothers really wanted to see it so we made it happen,” Klein said. “Just three hours later. It better be worth it.”</p><p>Judging from weekend movie sales, it is.</p><p>Nationally, “Avatar” and other blockbusters shattered records for the biggest combined box office weekend ever. The expected $278 estimate for the weekend tops the previous high of $253 million in July 2008 when “The Dark Knight” was released.</p><p>James Cameron’s high-tech flick was among diverse offerings that drew throngs to the multiplexes. “Sherlock Holmes,” “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel” and “It’s Complicated” all were grossing millions.</p><p>“Avatar” was the single-biggest hit, earning $75 million for 20th Century Fox, according to studio estimates Sunday. That was only a 3 percent drop from its opening weekend total of $77.4 million. Blockbusters typically drop 30-50 percent in the second weekend.</p><p>“It was way more than a movie,” said Melissa Titone of Santa Rosa, as she emerged from the downtown theater with husband Adam. “It was an experience.”</p><p>The popularity of the recent releases combined with high theater attendance around Christmas helped Santa Rosa’s Roxy 14 to the biggest weekend in its seven-year history.</p><p>Assistant Manager Jackie Johansen couldn’t release figures but said revenue eclipsed records set for “Harry Potter” and “Lord of the Rings” movie openings.</p><p>Tickets to “Avatar” — showing on three screens — were selling out and “Sherlock,” “Alvin and the Chipmunks” and “The Princess and the Frog” also were doing well, she said.</p><p>Weekend attendance was running about 2,000 people a day — about twice the normal turnout — and the ticket line was stretching to the end of the block for matinees and evening shows, she said.</p><p>“It’s been crazy,” Johansen said. “We’ve been super busy.”</p><p>Moviegoers didn’t seem fazed by the crowds.</p><p>“I was expecting a line,” said Rick Niles of Santa Rosa, who was headed in to see “Sherlock” with his wife. “It’s a holiday weekend. Plus, there are a lot of good movies out there.”</p><p>Glenn Jeffries of Santa Rosa also was taking his wife and son to see “Sherlock” after struggling to find a space in the city parking garage next door.</p><p>Jeffries said cars were backed up for several floors as people waited for others to leave. “It was a little tight in there,” Jeffries said.</p><p>Others arrived at the ticket window only to discover their show was sold out and they would have to come back.</p><p>Ezekiel Barcenas of Santa Rosa decided to rent a video and take his two brothers and two sisters home after they couldn’t get an afternoon ticket to “Alvin and the Chipmunks.”</p><p>“We were all excited about it,” Barcenas said. “Turns out we would have to wait two hours.”</p>