Box Office - 'Avatar' Hits $300 Million in 15 Days

Avatar is the third-fastest movie to break $300 million at the US box office, however, considering that over $200 million of that came in the last ten days, it's at least as impressive as the 14-day journey for Transformers to make that much. This past summer, it started with $127 million in its first three days, roughly $50 million more than Avatar managed in its debut. The film has put up ridiculous numbers since its opening weekend, grabbing the number two and four slots for the best non-opening Mondays and Wednesdays ever, and the number two and number four positions on the chart of non-opening Tuesdays. It also just shattered the New Year's Day record with $25 million, putting Avatar at $309 million, with maybe another $40 - $50 million this weekend. So $400 million by next weekend is almost a certainty. Another record will fall by Monday, as well: Having already captured the top second weekend in history, that performance will be repeated in the third frame. There is also the international box office, where Avatar has quickly become one of the top 25 films ever, with $800 million and counting. A billion dollars is nothing for this film, because it should make at least another $150 million in America alone, maybe even $200 million by the time it's done. I still don't think it will catch Titanic, but it's performing as well as any movie in history at this point, so we'll check in with that again in another couple weeks. It has to slow down sometime...right? Realistically, $1.5 billion worldwide is an attainable goal, and that would give Jim Cameron the top two box office grosses ever. No argument about that King of the World thing, then. Also, let's not forget that Avatar is generating huge Oscar buzz, and it's one of three movies with realistic chances to win Best Picture, along with Up in the Air and The Hurt Locker. However, it's probably at the top of the list right now. A win would probably add another $50 million or so to its domestic total. Hard to really tell in that scenario because, well, so many people will have already seen it by then so I don't know how big the Oscar discovery effect would be. It's a strong weekend all the way around, though. Sherlock Holmes made $15 million on Friday, good enough for the third best New Year's Day ever, and Alvin and the Chipmunks became the fourth highest-grossing movie ever on January 1st, too. It's Complicated has now made $57 million in a week, and The Blind Side hit $200 million, and probably has another $30 million or so left to go.

Comments

[Lengthy Johnson]

If Avatar had come out of nowhere, it probably would have won best picture. I think the protracted hype and the bragging by James Cameron, and the backlash, has put a mark on it that prevented many critics from giving it top marks and it will probably prevent many academy members from voting for it too.

[J]

It's hard to say when this thing is going to slow down. Word-of-mouth has been incredible so far. I went to a 6:15 showing here in Orange County, CA last night at a non-IMAX 3-D, and it was completely sold out. I still have a number of friends who haven't been able to make a show yet, on account of them selling out, so we'll see.

I was blown away by the film, and I definitely plan to see it again on the IMAX screen. It's certainly one of the most ambitious films I've seen in years, which puts it in a very rare class. In fact, while I was watching the film, I couldn't help but be reminded of Stanley Kubrick's speech when he was given the D.W. Griffith award. (here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQSIopp2xQE) Build better wings, indeed...

[Honz Brix]

So can we officially call this thing a monster!! I think $500 million is almost guaranteed now. It is possible in its 3rd weekend it might drop nearly 0% again. That is just insane! I know Titanic was going up in its 4th and 5th weekends but that was doing $30 - $40 million weekends. This movie is doing $75 million weekends and if it breaks $400 million by this time next week you have to start wondering about the #1 spot just because how quickly the money is flowing in. I said no way it would catch Titanic but now i'm beginning to wonder. I think it certainly could come withing $50 million now and worldwide it may come within a couple hundred million which is just insane. I guess we just have to sit back and watch a couple more weeks. Then it could get exciting. I will be going atleast one more time to see it, probably monday. Good job Mr. Cameron you may have the 2 biggest movies of all time

[SEAN]

GOOO AVATAR!!!!!

This is madness - King Leonidas from 300

lol..... this is really pandemonium it is quite an astonishing feat...I've only seen it once in IMAX 3D & that was earlier this week on Monday, & I still wanna/have to go again at the least!!!