Box Office: 'Avatar' a Bit Slow in Midnight Screenings

I'm not a big believer in midnight box office numbers. They're not a good indicator of overall box office life, only of immediate heat, and they're even less reliable than standard opening weekend numbers. With that in mind, I think everone expected more from Avatar. James Cameron's new film only took in $3 million overnight in the US and Canada, according to Deadline Hollywood, which points out that's about half of what Star Wars did and is roughly equivalent to Terminator Salvation. Again, midnight numbers don't mean much unless you're Twilight and you're throwing all your weight behind the first three days. Star Trek didn't do that and neither is Avatar. Fox and Cameron know it will take time to grow an audience, whereas Summit is fully aware that New Moon has a pretty low conversion rate of non-Twihards so why not blast them as much as early as possible? The three-hour running time is a big consideration here for Avatar, and because it's not a film that skews younger, there are plenty of people who don't want to get home at 3:30am and head to work four hours later. But it's safe to say I still anticipated a slightly better showing given the build-up and curiosity. I'm still holding to my $80ish million prediction for the weekend for Avatar, which is only in 3,542 theaters including IMAX, and that's significantly less than most 2009 blockbusters on this scale (10 - 20% less in some cases).

Comments

[Chad]

also doesnt help that sam worthington and zoe (insert last name here) aren't really big name draws. Sam worthington was in terminator but i dont really think he has that big of a following to get audiences in on his name. (personally i think christian bale should of been the terminator in that movie, sam worthington could of been john conner for all i care)

[moviebuffguy]

My opinion after viewing Avatar? Great 3D visuals but the story sucked! sucked! sucked! A Dances with Wolves ripoff! Evil humans terrorizing Poor innocent 10 feet tall smurfs to destroy a whole planet for some good old...snicker...giggle...LMAO! Obtaimium? Yes your heard it right Obtainium! WTF??? ! No way this piece of crapola surpasses Fox Studios mega budget to make this 3D monster. Its 3 hours of BS with blue smurfs fighting us mean capitalist greedy humans for a bunch of unobtanium stowed away in flying mountains!. Shame on you IMAX for even giving Cameron the use of your theaters to promote this BS! Unobtainium? Yeah! Unobtainable box office receipts no doubt. Shame on you Cameron! Shame on me for wasting 3 hours to watch this crap!

[Gary V.]

Its called Unobtainium dude. I saw iAvatar at IMAX too and personally l liked the 3D visual eye candy but have to agree the story was something out of a video game geared towards teenagers. Pretty lame and juvenile considering Cameron and his past work. Don't think it will do spectacular but probably will have marginal numbers at the box office only because of IMAX.

[Mutha like to git wit Zoe]

You got somethin againzt teenagers old white guys? Get a life haterz! AVATAR is 3D KEWL! Camrons right US marines are puzzies and the nav'vi''y kicked there azzes! Camron knows US military sux just like you old white guyz! Zoe is fine u people stoopid haterz! GO AVATAR!

[Nigel S.]

Oh my I have bad vibes after reading the last three posts here. I think i will just wait until Avatar comes out on DVD. God help us all.

[Helen]

After watching Avatar I must say it is a nonsensical teenage 3D flick. .What was James Cameron thinking? No Titanic here girls!

[Shane]

I saw it with my girlfriend the theater was only half full at the 12 noon showing today here in Atlanta. 3D effects were interesting to say the least but somehow everything felt overblown like the 2D CGI ln "Star Wars The Phantom Menace". Maybe Cameron wants to be the next Lucas? Fox Studios must be really quaking in there boots no doubt.

[Honz Brix]

To Nigel S: Don't let the negative reviews keep you from seeing this one on the big screen. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and not everyone can like any movie. There will always be some negative reviews for all movies. This movie you need to give a chance. 95% of the reviews i have read have been positive and i personally thought this was the best movie i have ever seen. Check out rotten tomatoes and look at the top critics reviews. Out of 32 of the top critics in the country 30 of them wrote positive reviews. As i said you will never see 100% but 94% is pretty damn good. This movie will be a best picture nominee. Give it a chance and go see it for yourself. I am pretty certain you will not be disappointed