The impossible has finally happened; “Avatar” surpassed “Titanic’s” worldwide $1.843 billion overall box-office record on Monday, Jan. 25, a record that stood for 12 years. “Avatar is now at $1.859 and still climbing fast.
And the IMAX 3D edition amassed another $6.6 million (down only 10%) in its 5th weekend in the 179 giant-screen theaters and mini-IMAX locations, according to Paul Dergarabedian of Hollywood.com’s Box office. With $87 million in North American IMAX theaters alone (it will likely hit $100 million), IMAX has increased its percentage of overall “Avatar” revenue domestically from 17% to more than 19%.
The run is even better overseas where “Avatar” grosses dropped only 3% on 82 screens to $4.4 mil. for a running grand total of $47 mil. for a global total of $134 mil. in 38 days.
With James Cameron helming both “Titanic” and “Avatar,” and only those two movies in the past 12 years, it is the equivalent of Bob Beamon coming back three Olympics after setting a stunning record at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico with a ridiculously long jump that stood as the benchmark for 23 years, and then jumping a foot longer than his previous mark. It would be like Margaret Mitchell or Harper Lee writing another novel decades later that was far more successful than “Gone with the Wind” or “To Kill a Mockingbird,” respectively.
The only record left for “Avatar” is the $600.8 million “Titanic” grossed in the U.S. alone back in 1998. But that record will also fall within a week, predicts Dergarabedian. “Avatar” is already at $555 million and grossed nearly $35 million more last weekend to remain at #1 for the sixth week in a row.
Then the lone remaining question is how high Cameron will set the bar this time. Even though “Titanic” has ended its run of being unmatched for 12 years, with “Avatar,” Cameron extends his reign as literally king of the box-office world indefnitely, perhaps for another 12 years.
Will he wait another 12 years to make his next movie?