With the recession, it’s no secret more and more people are flocking to the movie theaters for their entertainment. It looks like that trend could translate into a record year for Hollywood:

Movie studios began the year with January crossing the $1 billion mark for the first time ever, and box offices this month are counting on help from highly anticipated films such as “Avatar,” “Sherlock Holmes” and “It’s Complicated.”

So far, moviegoers had snapped up $9.67 billion worth of tickets at domestic — U.S. and Canadian — box offices through Tuesday, said tracking firm Hollywood.com Box Office.

The firm said 2007’s record was expected to be surpassed on Wednesday, as Hollywood reaps returns during a recession that, as in past downturns, has seen consumers showing up in theaters for relatively cheap entertainment.

I will be contributing my part in a few minutes when I head out to see Avatar.