According to figures in The Hollywood Reporter, James Cameron's Avatar has earned (or rather, is earning — the weekend isn't over) $68.3m on its third weekend, breaking another record (not accounting for inflation and higher 3D/IMAX ticket prices). The previous record holder for weekend 3 was Spider-Man which earned $45m in 2002 (approx. $52m in 2008/9).
After 17 days, Avatar has taken in a total of $352.1m at the domestic box office, 75 percent of which at higher-priced 3D theaters. It's currently #15 on the list of all-time biggest domestic box-office hits ever. Eventually, Avatar should overtake even Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight to become the second biggest grosser ever, right after Cameron's own Titanic.
In its first 17 days in the US/Canada, Titanic earned $241m adjusted for inflation (but not for 3D/IMAX premiums) according to Box Office Mojo. That late 1997 release, however, was initially screened in fewer theaters than Avatar and kept picking up steam as the weeks went by thanks at least in part to teenagers enthralled by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet's doomed love affair.
Overseas, Avatar added $133m this weekend, lifting its international total to $670 million. Its current worldwide gross stands at $1.02 billion, behind only three movies: Titanic, with $1.84 billion; The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, with $1.11b; and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, with $1.06b.
The Reporter adds that Avatar "was reportedly the most expensive film ever made, with a budget of at least $300 million." That's about $80m more than what 20th Century Fox claims Avatar cost to produce. James Cameron's first narrative feature since Titanic, Avatar stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Laz Alonso, CCH Pounder, Giovanni Ribisi, and West Studi.
Other films doing well at the domestic box office this weekend are Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes, starring Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law, with $38.4 million; Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, with $36.6m; and the Meryl Streep romantic comedy It's Complicated, with $18.4m.
Photo: WETA / 20th Century Fox
Avatar 3D was sold out locally so we saw it normal, about 10 minutes in I knew I'd come back to see it in 3D! Great job all around! Claims about its politics are a reflection of the claimants, the movie is just a story, get over yourselves!