Stephen Lang in Avatar (Mark Fellman / 20th Century Fox)
According to the Box Office Mojo chart for Wed., December 23, Avatar continued its $16 million-a-weekday run. Although James Cameron's sci-fi epic didn't break any records as far as I know, it did add $16.4 million to its domestic take, which now totals $125.9m.
Nineteen movies have had better Wednesdays than Avatar (remember that the chart hasn't been adjusted for inflation), but most of those further up the list had their opening day on a Wednesday. Yesterday was Day 6 for Avatar, which was released last Friday. Only two non-opening movies earned more than Avatar on a Wed.: Transformers at #6 (Day 2) and The Dark Knight at #15 ($18.3m on Day 6).
Per screen, Avatar actually scored better than The Dark Knight: $4,764 vs. $4,209, but that can be partly explained because of higher ticket prices and the fact that Avatar is playing in nearly 900 fewer screens. All things being equal, the fewer the theaters the greater the chance of higher average numbers.
Among the other blockbusters that fared better than Avatar on a Wednesday are Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen at #1 ($62.0m), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at #2 ($58.1m), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix at #3 ($44.2m), The Dark Knight at #15, Independence Day at #18 ($17.4m), and the new release Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel at #13 ($18.8m).
Once again, bear in mind that the above figures have not been adjusted for inflation and that Avatar tickets tend to be costlier because of 3D/IMAX premiums.
Avatar stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, and Laz Alonso. James Cameron both directed and wrote the screenplay. I personally doubt it that his directing expletives at a fan, though caught on camera (was that a set-up?), will somehow dim either Avatar's box-office prospects or Cameron's chances at the Oscars.
Best movie I have seen in 30 years. Best sci-fi EVER, well maybe.
yes I see the same reaction. Funny I watched it in IMAX 3D and now want to go see it a second time in 2D and hope that I can better pay attention to other subtleties about the movie.
As an usher at a movie theater with only one 3-D projector, I see the immediate reaction of the customers right as they walk out the door, And the movie goers that see soldout Avatar's in 3-D appear the most blown away. The customers who saw avatar in 2-D apear almsot equally impressed and i have overheard several of them talking about how they wish they saw avatar in 3-D and coming back to see the 3-D version because they loved the movie so much. Now im not sure if Avatars 2nd weekend will beat its 1st like many are saying, but this film will easily beat 300 million domestically and 500 million global.