Aided by consecutive holiday weekends and pricey 3-D tickets, total domestic sales for the science fiction epic reached $352 million and an eye-popping $670 million internationally, according to estimated figures by Exhibitor Relations.
The astronomical performance since the movie's debut 18 days ago has already sealed its reputation as one of the most impressive box office performers of all time.
"It was the fasteest ever to the $1 billion-mark," with "Avatar" now the third biggest grossing film ever, behind "Titanic" (1997) and "The Return of the King" (2003), the final movie in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, box office analyst Chad Hartigan of Exhibitor Relations told AFP.
"Avata" tells the story of paralyzed war veteran Jake Sully, who is sent on a mission from Earth to the planet Pandora, where he falls in love with a blu humanoid named Neytiri of the alien Na 'vi race.
Its new year's weekened ticket sales of $68.3 million easily set a domestic record for the biggest-ever third weekend sales of $66.4 million for "avatar" at IMAX. also broke the record for the mega-screen format, according to hollywood.com.
"It was expected to do well not this well." Hartigan said.
Optimistic estimates hovered around $350 million domestically over its total run, "But to have that already in 17 days is ridiculous." Hartigan added.
"At this point the sky seems to be the limit." "Avatar" is director James Camero's first film since the 1997 Oscar-winner "Titanic." which became the highest grossing film of all time.
His latest masterpiece became the most expensive film ever made, at up to $500 million.
source: Philippine Daily Inquirer Tuesday January 5, 2010
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