The number-two movie last weekend may have been titled Unbreakable but the movie that demonstrated it could produce an unbroken string of box-office successes was Universal's Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which remained the No. 1 movie for the third straight weekend with $27.1 million and now appears almost certain to extend its winning streak to four weekends this week.

Although the film has now grossed more than $172 million and appears set to become the most successful film of the year (it has already become Universal's biggest moneymaker since 1997), today's (Tuesday)

Hollywood Reporter points out that Grinch is a long way from turning green. The film, which ran considerably over budget, cost Universal $125 million to make, plus about $40 million-$45 million for prints and advertising, plus a hefty 34 percent of the "first dollar" gross to be shared by Imagine Entertainment's Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, Jim Carrey and the estate of Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss).

Moreover, the trade paper pointed out, the studio splits the box-office take down the middle with theater owners.

Source: Studio Briefing