( EW.com ) -- There 's no denying the power of the romantic comedy , even if `` Valentine 's Day , '' the movie , is as manufactured as the holiday itself . The all-star film grossed an estimated $ 52.4 million over three days and is likely to top $ 60 million by the time the Presidents Day holiday weekend is over . Its high-grossing debut -- the best ever for Presidents Day -- coupled with solid numbers from the other two new wide releases put 2010 's holiday frame into the record books with an estimated total gross of $ 193 million . `` Percy Jackson & The Olympians , '' based on the popular kids ' book series by author Rick Riordan , earned an estimated $ 31.1 million for the three days while the R-rated horror remake `` Wolfman , '' starring Benicio del Toro , grossed an estimated $ 30.6 million for a per-theater average of $ 9,497 . `` Avatar , '' in its ninth weekend of release , grossed another $ 22 million , falling only 4 percent from its previous weekend and putting its total cume close to $ 660 million . Last weekend 's winner , `` Dear John , '' dropped into fifth place for the frame . Losing 50 percent of its value , primarily off of `` Valentine 's Day '' competition , the film earned $ 15.3 million . Its total stands at $ 53 million . These strong numbers from female-driven films have Hollywood noticing that women are strong drivers of box office . Expect a rash of female-starring films to be green lit in the near future as the industry realizes ( yet again ) that women love going to the movies . What a revelation ! See full article at EW.com . CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2010 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved .
`` Valentine 's Day '' grossed an estimated $ 52.4 million over three days . Comment: In its 9th weekend of release , Avatar grossed another $ 22 million .