I guess the epic-trailer-bombardment-campaign that Sony embarked on a few weeks worked. How many times have you seen a commercial for the Channing Tatum / Amanda Seyfried chick-flick Dear John? I saw it enough to Kindle it last week and read it in one day.

Released by Sony’s Screen Gems banner, “Dear John” debuted as the No. 1 movie with $32.4 million, knocking off “Avatar” after seven weekends in first place, according to studio estimates Sunday.

“It is very cool to know that it was our movie that audiences just totally embraced and made No. 1 for the weekend,” said Rory Bruer, head of distribution at Sony. As for runaway blockbuster “Avatar,” he quipped, “I think they’re going to be fine in the long run.”

“Avatar” slipped to No. 2 with $23.6 million, raising its domestic total to $630.1 million. Directed by James Cameron, 20th Century Fox’s “Avatar” surpassed his own “Titanic,” which had held the domestic revenue record at $600.8 million.

Just in case you are one of those  ‘I don’t watch television’ types…here’s the trailer. It’s an interesting little bittersweet love story.