Mixed reviews from the critics didn’t stop Will Smith’s adaptation of Richard Matheson’s “I am Legend” from dominating the box office over the weekend. The sci-fi/horror film pulled in a whopping $76.5 million in its first weekend debut, crushing the competition despite an equally impressive $45 opening by the CGI-heavy “Alvin and the Chipmunks”.

“I am Legend’s” $76.5 take gives it top dog position for the best December opening of all time, barely beating out 2003’s “Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”, which claimed a hefty $72.6 million just four years ago.

But as impressive as Smiths’ “I am Legend” was, the $45 million debut of “Alvin and the Chipmunks” caught industry experts by surprise, including the film’s producers, who were expecting just half of that. No real surprise, as with “I am Legend” taking in the teen and over audience, what was there for the kids and their parents to see but Alvin and the singing chipmunks?

Here’s how the Top 10 at the Box Office broke down over the weekend (via):

1 —— I Am Legend —— $76,535,000
2 —— Alvin and the Chipmunks—— $45,000,000
3 —— The Golden Compass —— $9,025,000
4 —— Enchanted —— $6,004,000
5 —— No Country for Old Men —— $3,000,000
6 —— The Perfect Holiday —— $2,965,000
7 —— Fred Claus —— $2,305,000
8 —— This Christmas —— $2,300,000
9 —— Atonement —— $1,853,000
10 —— August Rush —— $1,785,000