'Dear John' knocks 'Avatar' off No.1 perch

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In this February 1, 2010 AP file photo, actress Amanda Seyfried and Channing Tatum arrive at the premiere of the feature film "Dear John" in Los Angeles.
In this February 1, 2010 AP file photo, actress Amanda Seyfried and Channing Tatum arrive at the premiere of the feature film "Dear John" in Los Angeles.
The romantic drama Dear John has knocked the sci-fi blockbuster Avatar off its No. 1 box-office perch.

Dear John debuted with $30.5 million ($NZ44.2 million), nudging Avatar to second-place with $22.9 million ($NZ33.1 million).

Avatar, which had been No. 1 for seven weekends, raised its revenue records to $639.3 million ($NZ926.6 million) domestically and $2.2 billion ($NZ3.1 billion) worldwide.