Fearless Forecast: 'Avatar' Surpasses 'Dark Knight'

By the time this weekend is through, James Cameron will be the undisputed box office champion. He already has the top two films ever in international revenue, and Avatar is almost certainly going to speed past The Dark Knight to win the silver in the US in the next few days, with plenty of steam left in its sails to go after Titanic. In about a month, maybe less, Avatar will be the highest-grossing film here and everywhere else. This weekend offers little resistance, although if Book of Eli were coming out now as opposed to last Friday, we'd have a real battle. Instead, the pace setter for new release is The Tooth Fairy, and it would be really embarrassing if that were the movie to topple Avatar, don't you think? (Actually, it could be Mel Gibson's Edge of Darkness next week.) So The King of the World has a pretty easy run this week, boosted a touch by the Golden Globe victories last Sunday. Legion is the other big debut, although "big" is probably a stretch. It looks cheesy as all get out and the few reviews aren't just bad, they're scathing. Don't expect much action, especially after Friday night. Instead, Denzel's Eli will have a fair sophomore weekend, giving a little credence to our prediction after last weekend's strong turnout that this might be the year's first $100 million movie. It should be over $60 million by Sunday, and probably above $75 million in another seven days. It could miss $100 million, but not by much. Beyond that, there's nothing of note to report; that's pretty typical of mid-to-late January. Go watch football. The Top Five:
1 - Avatar ($31.5 million)
2 - Tooth Fairy ($17 million)
3 - Book of Eli ($16 million)
4 - Legion ($12 million)
5 - Lovely Bones ($11 million)

Comments

[SEAN]

Football whoooo!!!

Yea I'm betting Edge of Darkness might dent Avatar but only slightly...

However you didnt mention Friday nights Hope For Haiti telethon on television showing on like what 15 + tv stations....
---That's why I'm thinking Friday will be a slow movie day in terms of revenue for all films...
---I mean I would think everyone will be at home watching the telethon, its like a rock/ alternative/ hip hop/ country / R&B/ pop / concert event, not including the celebrities

[Vince]

Next weekend's where my eyes are set. I think Edge of Darkness could have an excellent chance to take the number one spot. Although the movie's R-rated, it harkens back to the "good ol' days" of badass Mel Gibson movies, plus if Taken can open solidly on the same weekend last year, no reason why Mel's latest can't.