'2012' tops Australian box office

Disaster movie 2012 has soared straight to the top of the Australian box office.

Helmer Roland Emmerich's apocalyptic drama, which stars John Cusack and Thandie Newton, pulls in an impressive $6 million to take first place ahead of The Time Traveler's Wife.

A Christmas Carol holds its position at number three, This Is It slips to four and Clive Owen drama The Boys Are Back is a new entry at five.

Elsewhere, biopic Amelia makes a disappointing debut, landing at number eight with a $226,000 haul.

The box office top ten in full (figures in Australian dollars):

1. (-) 2012 - $6,075,162
2. (2) The Time Traveler's Wife - $1,048,103
3. (3) A Christmas Carol - $925,578
4. (1) This Is It - $670,266
5. (-) The Boys Are Back - $473,339
6. (5) Mao's Last Dancer - $355,179
7. (4) Couples Retreat - $325,327
8. (-) Amelia - $226,188
9. (6) The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus - $204,006
10. (7) The Final Destination - $163,971