Titanic 3D: James Cameron Iceberg Epic Nears $3 Billion Worldwide

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in Titanic 3D

April 16 update: The Titanic 3D rerelease hasn’t broken any box office records in North America, where it has taken in an estimated $44.41 million after 12 days. Overseas, however, it’s another story.

This weekend (which includes Wed./Thu. in some territories), Titanic 3D topped the international box office, collecting an estimated $98.9 million at 9,889 theaters in 69 territories (representing more than 100 countries), according to Box Office Mojo. In China alone, James Cameron disaster / romantic epic starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, and veteran Gloria Stuart drew $67 million, an official record for that country (not adjusted for inflation / currency fluctuations).

For comparison’s sake: several years before China became a box office powerhouse for Hollywood movies – one likely to surpass the United States in the not-too-distant future – Titanic earned $43.92 million during its initial run in that country. If you take inflation into account (though without adjusting for currency fluctuations), that represents about $62 million today, or about $5 million less than the amount Titanic 3D scored in six days.

Titanic 3D‘s total foreign gross stands at $157.1 million. Including the original’s take, the film’s foreign cume is $1.399 billion (not taking inflation into account). Considering inflation (but not currency fluctuations), Titanic‘s international take has reached $1.9 billion in 2012 US dollars*. Avatar, which had the advantage of 3D/IMAX surcharges, grossed $2.02 billion internationally in early 2010.

In North America, Titanic originally grossed $600.8 million plus $44.4 million this year, or an inflation-adjusted $1.047 billion, for an adjusted worldwide total of $2.947 billion. Avatar‘s worldwide gross stands at $2.8 billion; if adjusted, then approximately $2.895 billion. In other words, Titanic would be ahead of Avatar after box office grosses are adjusted for inflation – as they always should – and definitely way ahead in terms of ticket sales for the original Titanic didn’t have the advantage of 3D surcharges or widespread (and costlier) IMAX screenings. (See also: Titanic vs. Avatar.)

The original Titanic‘s top international markets were Japan, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Brazil.

Titanic stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Gloria Stuart, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Bill Paxton, Frances Fisher, Bernard Hill, David Warner, Victor Garber, Suzy Amis (James Cameron’s wife since 2000), Mark Lindsay Chapman, Jonathan Hyde, Danny Nucci, and Ioan Gruffudd.

* Note: The U.S. Department of Labor’s inflation calculator was used to calculate the international box office take of Titanic and Avatar in 2012 U.S. dollars. Box Office Mojo’s annual average domestic movie-ticket cost, taken from the National Association of Theater Owners’ annual report, was used to calculate the inflationary effect at the domestic box office.

Kate Winslet and Billy Zane Titanic 3D movie image: Paramount | 20th Century Fox.

April 8

As expected, The Hunger Games easily topped the North American box office for the third weekend in a row. Gary Ross’ dystopian adventure tale collected $33.5 million according to studio estimates found at Box Office Mojo. That represents a 43 percent drop from last weekend, whereas early estimates published on Friday – Deadline had the film earning $40 million over the weekend – implied a drop-off rate of only 30-35 percent. [Image: Alexander Ludwig as Cato.]

For comparison’s sake: although both The Hunger Games and Catherine Hardwicke / Robert Pattinson / Kristen Stewart’s original Twilight dropped 62 percent on their second weekend out, The Hunger Games had a softer drop-off rate on its third weekend, as Twilight was down 50.5 percent.

I should note that good business on Good Friday, when many schools and businesses were closed, helped The Hunger Games quite a bit. The film was down only 31 percent compared to the previous Friday, whereas it was down an estimated 47 percent on Saturday compared to the previous week, and 50.5 percent on Sunday.

Anyhow, for a more accurate comparison, we’ll have to wait until box office actuals are released on Monday. In the last two weekends, Lionsgate overestimated The Hunger Games’ box office take by several million.

And finally, unless Lionsgate has once overestimated its film’s box office take, The Hunger Games passed (or will be passing) the $300 million mark at the domestic box office on Sunday. Its current estimated cume is $302.8 million. Though doing solid business overseas, The Hunger Games is performing quite modestly abroad when compared to its North American success: an estimated $157.1 million. The film’s worldwide total is $459.9 million.

Gary Ross (who apparently is still in negotiations to direct Catching Fire) co-wrote The Hunger Games’ screenplay with author Suzanne Collins and Billy Ray. The film stars Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks, and Woody Harrelson.

Also in the cast: Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Wes Bentley, Alexander Ludwig, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jack Quaid, and Toby Jones.

Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg’s American Reunion landed at no. 2 on the North American box office chart, according to studio estimates found at Box Office Mojo. At 3,192 locations, the R-rated comedy took in $21.5 million – including $660,000 earned at Thursday midnight screenings. That’s quite a bit lower than the $25 million some had been expecting as late as Friday evening, or the near-$30 million predicted by Box Office Mojo a few days ago.

If those estimates are correct, Universal will surely claim that American Reunion easily surpassed the $18.7 million earned by the original American Pie at 2,508 sites in 1999. In 2012 dollars, however, American Pie would have earned approximately $29 million. And what that means is: many more tickets were sold for American Pie than for American Reunion.

Also, remember that American Reunion cost a reported $50 million (not including marketing / distribution expenses), whereas American Pie cost $11 million – or about $15 million in 2012 dollars. The 1999 comedy was directed by Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz (later of The Twilight Saga: New Moon fame and more recently the director of the socially conscious drama A Better Life, starring Oscar nominee Demián Bichir).

At the no. 3 position, James Cameron’s Titanic 3D, the top (2D) movie of the late 20th century, raked in $17.35 million at 2,674 locations. Tellingly, despite 3D surcharges Titanic‘s per-theater average was lower than American Reunion‘s: $6,488 vs. $6,736. Remember that all things being equal, the fewer the number of theaters the higher the per-theater average should be; American Reunion is playing at about 500 more sites than Titanic 3D.

Admittedly, one must also bear in mind that Titanic opened last Wednesday, thus blowing off some box office steam prior to the weekend. But then again, some had been expecting that Titanic 3D would rake in $30 million in its first five days. Not even close: its cume is an estimated $25.71 million.

For comparison’s sake: Walt Disney Studios’ Beauty and the Beast 3D took in $23.2 million in its first five days this past January (including a holiday), while The Lion King 3D drew $35.1 million in Sept. 2011. George Lucas’ Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace grossed $24.5 million in its first five days out in Feb. 2012.

Paramount (Titanic 3D‘s domestic distributor), 20th Century Fox (the international distributor), and Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment have reportedly spent 60 weeks and $18 million on Titanic‘s full restoration and 2D-to-3D conversion. Remember that studios earn on average about 50–55 percent of a film’s domestic box office grosses.

Overseas, American Reunion collected a surprisingly high $19.3 million at 28 markets, while Titanic 3D brought in $35.5 million at 84 territories. Obviously, the 3D gimmick remains considerably more popular abroad than in North America. Also, it’s worth remembering that the original Titanic earned more than twice its box office take overseas; this at a time when China and Russia – and even Brazil and Mexico – weren’t the powerhouse movie markets they’ve since become.

American Reunion features Grassroots / Life Happens’ Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Alyson Hannigan, Tara Reid, Seann William Scott, Mena Suvari, Eddie Kaye Thomas, John Cho, Jennifer Coolidge, Eugene Levy, Natasha Lyonne, Dania Ramirez, and Jay Harrington, in addition to a cameo by Neil Patrick Harris.

Titanic 3D photo: Paramount / 20th Century Fox.

Taylor Kitsch, John Carter movie

Wrath of the Titans was the no. 4 movie at the North American box office this weekend, according to studio estimates found at Box Office Mojo. Featuring Avatar‘s Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, and Ralph Fiennes, the poorly received Jonathan Liesbeman-directed fantasy adventure grossed $15.01 million, for a cume of $58.89 million after ten days.

The $150 million production was down 55 percent in North America, though things look rosier abroad. For the second weekend in a row, Wrath of the Titans was the no.1 film internationally, bringing in $43 million from 60 territories. Its international cume is $152.8 million.

At no. 5, Tarsem Singh’s Mirror Mirror brought in $11 million (down 39 percent), raising the $85 million-budgeted comedy fantasy’s cume to a lowly $36.47 million. Mirror Mirror stars Julia Roberts, Armie Hammer, and Lily Collins. (A radically different take on the Snow White tale, Snow White and the Huntsman, opens on June 1. Directed by Rupert Sanders, the dark adventure drama stars Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, and Sam Claflin.)

Rounding out the top nine movies on the domestic chart were Channing Tatum / Jonah Hill’s 21 Jump Street with $10.2 million (down 31 percent), having just passed the $100 million milestone (total to date: $109.57 million); the animated feature Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax with $5 million (down 36 percent); and Ewan McGregor / Emily Blunt’s Salmon Fishing in Yemen with $975k (-23 percent). Ultimately, The Lorax failed to pass the $200 million mark on Sunday. That’ll likely happen either on Monday or Tuesday. The Lorax‘s current cume is $198.2 million.

Also: at no. 9, Andrew Stanton / Taylor Kitsch’s John Carter with $820k (-60 percent); Ryan Reynolds / Denzel Washington’s Safe House with $581k (-25 percent); Gareth Evans’ The Raid: Redemption with $565k (+109 percent, following the addition of 130 locations); and the red-white-and-blue Act of Valor with $536k (-46 percent), which, as expected, has so far performed quite poorly abroad.

Safe House, I should add, has passed the Channing Tatum / Rachel McAdams’ romantic melodrama The Vow at the domestic box office: $124.75 million vs. $123.71 million. Neither movie has done all that great internationally: Safe House has an okay $71 million, while The Vow has a passable $51 million.

John Carter, on the other hand, has performed poorly at the domestic box office – $67.97 million cume – but has done quite well internationally: an estimated $195.6 million. The film’s worldwide total is a quite respectable $263.57 million. If only John Carter hadn’t cost Disney $250 million (plus marketing / distribution expenses)…

Taylor Kitsch / John Carter photo: Walt Disney Studios.

April 7

The Hunger Games will easily top the North American box for the third weekend in a row. Gary Ross’ dystopian adventure tale collected $12.9 million on Friday, April 6, according to studio estimates found at Box Office Mojo. The film will likely earn somewhere between $35-$40 million over the Easter weekend. If so, it will be down around 30-35 percent compared to a week ago – or about half its 62 percent drop-off rate last (non-holiday) weekend. The Hunger Games should cross the $300 million mark at the domestic box office on Sunday. Its current total is $282.23 million.

Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg’s American Reunion landed at no. 2 on Friday. At 3,192 locations, the R-rated comedy took in $9.2 million – including $660,000 earned at Thursday midnight screenings. Its weekend total could reach $25 million.

If those estimates are correct, Universal will claim that American Reunion far surpassed the $18.7 million earned by the original American Pie at 2,508 sites in 1999. In 2012 dollars, however, American Pie would have earned approximately $29 million – what that means is: more ticket were sold.

Also bear in mind that, even while ignoring marketing / distribution expenses, American Reunion cost a reported $50 million, whereas American Pie cost $11 million – or about $15 million in 2012 dollars. The 1999 comedy was directed by Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz (later of The Twilight Saga: New Moon fame and more recently the director of A Better Life, starring Oscar nominee Demián Bichir).

At no. 3, the top movie of the late 20th century, James Cameron’s Titanic 3D, managed to collect $7.14 million at 2,674 locations. Despite 3D surcharges, Titanic‘s per-theater average was lower than American Reunion‘s: $2,670 vs. $2,882. Remember that all things being equal, the fewer the number of theaters the higher the per-theater average should be. American Reunion is playing at about 500 more sites than Titanic 3D. But then again, one must also bear in mind that Titanic opened on a Wednesday, thus blowing off some box office steam prior to Friday.

Some had been expecting that Titanic 3D would rake in $30 million in its first five days. Barring a major surge on Saturday, that seems unlikely, though Titanic will probably get close to that figure. Paramount, 20th Century Fox, and Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment have reportedly spent 60 weeks and $18 million on Titanic‘s full restoration and 2D-to-3D conversion. (Remember, studios get on average about 50-55 percent of a film’s domestic box office grosses.)

Wrath of the Titans was the no. 4 movie at the North American box office on Friday, April 6, according to studio estimates found at Box Office Mojo. Starring Avatar‘s Sam Worthington, the fantasy adventure grossed $5.42 million. The $150 million production will be crossing the $50 million mark at the domestic box office sometime today.

At no. 5, Tarsem Singh’s Mirror Mirror brought in $4.58 million, raising the comedy fantasy’s cume to $30 million. The film stars Julia Roberts, Armie Hammer, and Lily Collins. (A radically different take on the Snow White tale, Snow White and the Huntsman, opens on June 1. It stars Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, and Sam Claflin.)

Rounding out the top nine movies on the domestic chart were Channing Tatum / Jonah Hill’s 21 Jump Street with $3.62 million; the animated feature Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, which should reach the $200 million milestone on Sunday, with $2.3 million; Ewan McGregor / Emily Blunt’s Salmon Fishing in Yemen with $320,000; and Andrew Stanton / Taylor Kitsch’s John Carter with $291,000.

Sam Worthington / Wrath of the Titans photo: Jay Maidment / Warner Bros.

Titanic 3D photo: Paramount / 20th Century Fox.

April 6

The Hunger Games will easily top the North American box office once again this weekend – its third time as no. 1 – according to Deadline.com‘s “sources.” As per Deadline’s early, rough estimates, The Hunger Games is expected to collect $12-$14 million on Friday, and could reach $40 million over the Easter weekend. If so, Gary Ross’ movie would be down close to 30 percent compared to last weekend – or less than half its drop-off rate last (non-holiday) weekend.

It seems that Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg’s American Reunion will be the no. 2 movie on Friday, with somewhere between $8-$10 million at 3,192 locations, and an estimated $25 million by Sunday evening. That includes $660,000 earned at Thursday midnight screenings in North America.

If those estimates are correct, Universal will claim that American Reunion far surpassed the $18.7 million earned by the original American Pie at 2,508 sites in 1999. There is, however, a pesky little thing known as inflation, which totally distorts box office comparisons and actual ticket-sales figures. In 2012 dollars, American Pie would have earned approximately $29 million. The 1999 comedy was directed by Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz (later of The Twilight Saga: New Moon fame and more recently the director of A Better Life, starring Oscar nominee Demián Bichir).

James Cameron’s Titanic 3D is expected to collect $6.5–$7.5 million on Friday, though Deadline’s estimated $20 million five-day cume looks like a typo. Since Titanic 3D has already earned $8.3 million on Wednesday and Thursday and should collect at least $6.5 million or whereabouts today, that basically means a minimum of $25–$26 million – probably more – by Sunday evening. Some have been expecting Titanic 3D to rake in $30 million in its first five days.

American Reunion features Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Alyson Hannigan, Tara Reid, Seann William Scott, Mena Suvari, Eddie Kaye Thomas, John Cho, Jennifer Coolidge, Eugene Levy, Natasha Lyonne, Dania Ramirez, and Jay Harrington, in addition to a cameo by Neil Patrick Harris.

Titanic 3D photo: Paramount / 20th Century Fox.

April 5

Titanic 3D may have sailed to the top of the North American box office chart on Wednesday, grossing an estimated $4.7 million at about 2,600 locations according to The Hollywood Reporter. That figure includes $300,000 earned at Tuesday night previews, and 71 IMAX screens. Directed by James Cameron, who made perfectly-timed headlines about a week ago thanks to a quick deep-sea trek, the 1997 megablockbuster stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.

Titanic‘s chief competition for the no. 1 slot is 2012’s own megablockbuster, Jennifer Lawrence / Liam Hemsworth / Josh Hutcherson’s The Hunger Games. The Gary Ross dystopian adventure drama earned an estimated $4.6-$4.7 million on Wednesday – without the added Tuesday night bonus or box-office-boosting 3D surcharges.

Paramount is (officially) estimating Titanic 3D will rake in $20 to $25 million by Friday. 20th Century Fox is handling the film’s international release.

Launched in December 1997, the original Titanic grossed $1.8 billion worldwide. For those who choose to ignore the Inflation Effect, Cameron’s romantic-disaster melodrama was the all-time top-grossing movie until Cameron’s own Avatar, released in December 2009. Needless to say, neither movie actually sold more tickets than Clark Gable / Vivien Leigh’s Gone with the Wind, George Lucas’ Star Wars, Robert Wise / Julie Andrews’ The Sound of Music, or Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, to name a few.

Paramount, Fox, and Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment have reportedly spent 60 weeks and $18 million on Titanic‘s full restoration and 2D-to-3D conversion.

In early 1998, Titanic was nominated for a record-tying 14 Academy Awards. (Its predecessor was Joseph L. Mankiewicz / Bette Davis’ 1950 dramatic comedy All About Eve.) Cameron’s movie went on to receive 11 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, thus tying the record of William Wyler / Charlton Heston’s 1959 epic Ben-Hur. (In early 2004, Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, would also win 11 Oscars.)

Kate Winslet, veteran Gloria Stuart (Roman Scandals, The Invisible Man, The Old Dark House), and the Titanic‘s make-up crew were the only Titanic nominees who went home empty-handed: Winslet lost to Helen Hunt in James L. Brooks’ As Good as It Gets, Stuart lost to Kim Basinger in Curtis Hanson’s L.A. Confidential, while Tommy Lee Jones / Will Smith’s Men in Black won for Best Make-Up.

Both Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance and James Cameron’s script were bypassed by the Academy. Else, Titanic would have boasted a record-smashing 16 Oscar nominations.

Kate Winslet / Titanic 3D photo: Paramount / 20th Century Fox.

Titanic 3D was the no. 2 movie on the domestic box office chart on Wednesday, April 4, according to figures found at Box Office Mojo. Directed by the Marianas Trench’s James Cameron, and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, Titanic 3D collected $4.37 million at 2,674 theaters, landing right behind The Hunger Games’ $4.6 million at 4,137 locations.

Comparisons are hard to make. The Hunger Games is in 2D, which means cheaper movie ticket prices, but it’s playing at 1,500 more theaters than Titanic 3D. The Hunger Games has also been around for 13 days; Titanic 3D opened on Tuesday, earning approximately $325,000 at various preview screenings.

Directed by Gary Ross, The Hunger Games stars Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, and Josh Hutcherson.

At no. 3, Jonathan Liebesman / Sam Worthington / Ralph Fiennes’ Wrath of the Titans grossed $2.25 million, followed by Julia Roberts / Armie Hammer / Lily Collins’ Mirror Mirror with $1.66 million and Channing Tatum / Jonah Hill’s 21 Jump Street‘s $1.45 million.

Paramount is (officially) estimating Titanic 3D will bring in $20 to $25 million by Friday. 20th Century Fox is handling the film’s international release.

Released in late December 1997, the original Titanic went on to gross $1.8 billion worldwide. For those who pretend inflation doesn’t exist, Cameron’s melodrama was the all-time top-grossing movie until Cameron’s own Avatar, released in December 2009. In fact, neither movie actually sold more tickets than Clark Gable / Vivien Leigh’s Gone with the Wind, George Lucas’ Star Wars, Robert Wise / Julie Andrews’ The Sound of Music, or Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, to name a few.

Paramount, Fox, and Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment have reportedly spent more than a year and $18 million on Titanic‘s full restoration and 2D-to-3D conversion.

In early 1998, Titanic was nominated for a record-tying 14 Academy Awards. (Its predecessor was Joseph L. Mankiewicz / Bette Davis / Anne Baxter’s 1950 Best Picture winner All About Eve.) Cameron’s movie went on to receive 11 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, thus tying the record of William Wyler / Charlton Heston’s 1959 epic Ben-Hur. (In early 2004, Peter Jackson / Viggo Mortensen / Elijah Wood’s The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, would also win 11 Oscars.)

Kate Winslet, veteran Gloria Stuart (Roman Scandals, The Invisible Man, The Old Dark House), and the Titanic‘s make-up crew were the only Titanic losers: Winslet lost to Helen Hunt in James L. Brooks’ As Good as It Gets, Stuart lost to Kim Basinger in Curtis Hanson’s L.A. Confidential, while Tommy Lee Jones / Will Smith’s Men in Black won for Best Make-Up.

Leonardo DiCaprio and James Cameron’s original screenplay were bypassed by the Academy. Else, Titanic could have boasted a record-smashing 16 Oscar nominations.

Titanic 3D image: Paramount | 20th Century Fox.