Box Office Guru Wrapup: Avatar Soars to #1 Spot

Michael Fortner

Please stop replying to Goodreel, people. He has nothing to do than troll forums. Don't indulge him, pity him. That said, Avatar more than lived up to the hype for me and my wife. We drove 2 1/2 hours to see it on a REAL IMAX screen and didn't regret a mile of the trip. As for Sam Worthington, I do think he is over-rated (as most "next-big-things" turn out to be), but he isn't a horrible actor. Too early to tell what his fate in Hollywood will be. Terminator 4 was just atrocious and there was nothing for any of the actors to work with and Worthington spent most of Avatar buried under CGI. Only time will tell, just as it will tell Avatar's final gross. But doing 4 million more than estimated on Sunday is certainly not bad news for the film's prospects.

Dec 21 - 12:49 PM

Joanna Loesch

An interesting read here: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118013008.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

Performing far better than expected on Sunday, 20th Century Fox and James Cameron's "Avatar" finished the weekend with an opening gross of $77 million, instead of $73 million.

"Avatar" dropped a mere 3% from Saturday to Sunday, an unheard of feat, and a sign that the 3D sci-fi fantasy is already benefiting from tremendous word-of-mouth.

The film also did better than initially projected overseas, grossing $165.5 million in its foreign debut, versus the $159.2 projected on Sunday. Worldwide total is $242.5 million.

"Avatar" scored the fifth best opening of all time internationally, narrowly beating the $165.4 opening of "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen."

For the whole article follow the link.

Dec 21 - 12:50 PM

Rocky Davies

I loved it. It felt very epic and immersive. I loved the art and design. It had great CG. I don't know what else to say other than I'm glad to finally see a film that wasn't disappointing.

Dec 21 - 12:55 PM

Richardson Gonzalez

Come on the blizzard had to do a lot with it
because of the blizzard it didn't make as mach we were expecting.
gotta give credit to avatar, best film of all history.

Dec 21 - 01:14 PM

Paul Barrett

DJ, I actually had a female friend who didn't care for it much. She said the effects were great but the story didn't do it for her. That's cool. I'm sure you're like me, I don't have to have everyone like (or dislike) everything I do.

Dec 21 - 01:33 PM

dude meister

Avatar's worldwide gross was an estimated $232,180,000 after three days, the ninth largest opening-weekend gross of all time, and the largest for a non-franchise, non-sequel and original film. As of December 21, 2009, the film has grossed $241,571,046 worldwide. thats from wikipedia. so yeah the fact that its a original, non sequel makes sense for its (still very strong) opening. i don't understand why people are treating it like a flop. it did very well, and its box office doesn't really matter the story's ok but its a quality film. i think worthington's a great actor. he saved t4 from the abyss known as crap-fest and made it watchable. if u watch the movie, you will see he gives a great performance and is one of the films really strong points so please you guys, if you don't like the movie, just give it SOME respect and if you haven't, just check it out and then give any opinion you want, but like favourites on this site, transformers 2, new moon etc. just give it some respect

Dec 21 - 03:27 PM

Dan R

Well of course it was never going to beat something like Transformers or New Moon which already have established fanbases and are in high demand. It would be near impossible for an original property to create enough hype to draw masses greater than the crowds which turn out at midnight for their favourite book/cartoon/show adaptation.

And the updated box office figures place Avatar as the highest grossing opening weekend (worldwide) for an original film, I think that's more than satisfactory.

I think the worldwide total will make it to a billion.

Dec 21 - 03:56 PM

dude meister

and cutler and all others saying similars things, no disrespect, but the only reason new moon did as much as it did was because it was a sequel, when twilight came out it grossed 68 million, and all the top five movie openings are all sequels or part of a franchise, and avatar has the highest opening for a non sequel, non franchise, and when imax and 3d are mostly limited, so avatar's release was probably just a tad limited, so yes it did extremely well for the snowstorm and its position as an original, non sequel, again like i quoted 'the highest opening for an original non sequel' and also the blizzard really was a big factor, lots of people couldnt leave they're homes, and nfl games were delayed for 3 hours, it may sound laughable that something practical like this could affect the b.o. but this haa happened before and all the reports from respected publication like the wall street journal, are giving it that courtesy again, openings dont really matter. take for instance titanic, it had an ok opening of 23 mil then went on the gross 1.8 billion, making it the biggest hit ever (i assume you all know that). i personally think avatar is a phenomenal movie and i beg you, before you make any comments or criticisms, please, please go watch the movie, and please don't be a hater. if you do not like the movie, fine, but have the courtesy to show a little respect. thanks

Dec 21 - 04:00 PM

dude meister

but like favourites on this site, transformers 2, new moon etc. just give it some respect
i would like to change that statement before i get called a hypocrite. i have not been very respectful actually with films like new moon and transformers 2 and Michael bay in my previous comments, only because i was aggravated for the lack of respect from avatar and i was using them for retaliation, and to make points so i apologize. fyi avatar's tomatomaeter has risen, no at 84% go avatar!

Dec 21 - 04:12 PM

dude meister

*now 84% not no

Dec 21 - 04:13 PM

dude meister

fyi the list i posted a link for id domestic, i was speaking about the world wide box office, which i consider the true, full b.o., because it counts its performance everywhere, including the us of a so i think people should focus on worldwide more because thats the true total. just sayin'

Dec 21 - 04:15 PM

Dan R

Hahaha wow, check this out. From Variety:

"Performing far better than expected on Sunday, 20th Century Fox and James Cameron's "Avatar" finished the weekend with an opening gross of $77 million, instead of $73 million.

"Avatar" dropped a mere 3% from Saturday to Sunday, an unheard of feat, and a sign that the 3D sci-fi fantasy is already benefiting from tremendous word-of-mouth.

The film also did better than initially projected overseas, grossing $165.5 million in its foreign debut, versus the $159.2 projected on Sunday. Worldwide total is $242.5 million.

"Avatar" scored the fifth best opening of all time internationally, narrowly beating the $165.4 opening of "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen."

Check out that last sentence Cutler, you have to admit that even if you don't like the film or it doesn't overhaul the global take of ROTF (which I think it will) it's pretty impressive. Transformers had the built in audience of the first movie, which already had an established fanbase with fans of the cartoon. After the first movie made a ****load worldwide, you'd think it would draw in a few new customers for the second.

****, even I saw ROTF at the movies and I didn't see the first.

Not a bad achievement that Avatar could surpass that international opening weekend without any built in fanbase (aside from Cameron fans).

Although domestically it should have performed better, I agree, I don't think the snowstorms would have affected the gross that much, maybe by only 10 mil. Still, hopefully that means it has great legs.

Dec 21 - 04:19 PM

dude meister

oh btw avatar came second to i am legend on december openings with only 600,000 not even a mil so thats pretty close man and the day is not over.... we'll see

Dec 21 - 04:28 PM

Mitchell Nash

I wanted to respond to a lot of these comments with a good counter point, but then decided not to because of how pointless it would be. As if bickering on the internet would really change how Avatar will perform or how much people will enjoy Avatar. Haha.

I do agree however, that it IS amusing. I've read all the comments to far. Maybe in the coming weeks when Avatar has shown how much money it can truly make will I give my opinion about the box office gross.

Dec 21 - 06:08 PM

dedrick gughene

All you fanboys need to remember is Will Smith is more popular than Avatar.

Dec 21 - 07:45 PM

johann hart

I really hope that avatar launches a new episode of films that will be original and a sensation image of what a movie is suppose to be. Avatar... i give 100% reallly brilliant movie.

Dec 21 - 09:01 PM

Ted kruts

I love how idiots like to claim that Box office intake is NOT a subjective measure of value, it shows their lack of education.

Dec 22 - 08:49 AM

dedrick gughene

Ah, finally -- see how much simpler it is to be concise and to the point?

Oh and in case you didn't realize it already, the only things James Cameron cares about are: (1) box office receipts, and (2) academy awards.

So...yes...box office numbers have intrinsic "value," especially to an ego-maniac like Cameron.

Dec 22 - 10:09 AM

peter lee

Yo Cameron, you ain't got **** on me!!!!

I'M KING OF THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Big Willie OUT!!

Dec 22 - 10:45 AM

peter lee

P.S. Cameron, holla at yo boy if you wanna make a real blockbuster. I took a break from the hollywood scene for a minute but i'mma run up in there again and blow up da spot right quick ya heard me?

I AM LEGEND. Starring ME. Big Willie. #1 December Opening. Belie' Dat.

Dec 22 - 10:47 AM