There’s no stopping Avatar‘s “shock-and-awe” performance at the box office. For the fourth weekend in a row, James Cameron’s sci-fi blockbuster was No. 1 with $48.5 million, according to early estimates by Hollywood.com Box Office. While the majority of holdovers plunged about 50 percent this weekend, Avatar slipped only 29 percent while crossing a series of milestones in the process. First, Avatar passed Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen to become 2009′s highest grossing film. The 3-D epic also leaped over Spider-Man and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest to become America’s seventh-highest grosser, and by the end of next weekend, Avatar is likely to jump four more spots to become No. 3 on the all-time list.
Perhaps most impressive of all, however, is that Avatar posted by far the top fourth weekend on tally. The next best performance was another Cameron movie, Titanic, which earned $28.7 million during its fourth weekend. The burning question now is whether Avatar will have enough steam in the tank to knock Titanic off its perch as the domestic and worldwide box-office king. Titanic grossed $600.8 million domestically and $1.8 billion globally, while Avatar is currently sitting with $429 million domestically and $1.3 billion worldwide. Hold on to your hats, folks.
In second place (yes, people were seeing other movies too) was Sherlock Holmes, which sleuthed $16.6 million in its third weekend for a hearty cumulative gross of $165.2 million. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel captured third place with $16.3 million, bringing its total to $178.2 million. Can you say Threequel? At No. 4 was the new Ethan Hawke vampire thriller Daybreakers with $15 million — an impressive number considering the long-delayed film had a reported budget of just $20 million. The romantic comedy It’s Complicated rounded out the top five with $11 million.
The weekend’s other two new releases — the Amy Adams romantic comedy Leap Year and the Michael Cera teen comedy Youth in Revolt — debuted in sixth and ninth place with $9.2 million and $7 million, respectively. Those are decent numbers, especially considering that both films had budgets of less than $20 million. Still, after the multiplex closes for the night, the Na’vi can’t help but tease poor Michael Cera, a.k.a. “the Sky Person who grossed only $7 million.”
I’m glad Avatar is making tons of money.
Are you getting any of it?
No, but that doesn’t mean we can’t root for it to do well. Do you get a cut of your favorite athlete’s paycheck? Do you get a championship ring when they win a title? No, but you still root for them, right?
Ouch – OWNED.
Hahahaha! loved your response, J!
I sorry but that was an awesome response J. I’d never thought of that before when people question why I care about a movie.
I have no interest in sports, but if I did, it wouldn’t mean anything to me if they did well. I enjoy movies, but how much money a movie makes doesn’t necessarily make it a good movie. If a movie I like does well, it is meaningless to me. I would certainly be foolish to brag about a films performance online, unless I was one of the producers.
HAHAHAHAHAHA
OWNED
Forget the sports analogy if it doesn’t suit you…if you enjoy a movie and it does well at the box office…it opens the door for potential SEQUELS. When you get movies like Avatar that incorporate breakthrough technology and it keeps putting people in the seats week after week….you’re going to get other moviemakers interested in embracing the technology as well. Win Win for all. But, yeah I wouldn’t mind a cut of the proceeds!
Not owned. An team represents your city. Avatar doesn’t represent anything.
And I’m happy that the highest grosser of 2009 is no longer Transformers 2. Gives me renewed hope for the future of humanity!
Let’s be honest here….Avatar is only slightly better than Transformers 2. Both movies represent everything that is wrong with Hollywood movies these days…spectacle over substance.
To the contrary, Avatar is one of the few movies that successfully combines spectacle with substance. Kevin, your comment suggests that you have never seen Avatar
I think you’re selling it short, Kevin. Regardless of how you feel about Avatar’s message, it undeniably had one. It also used CGI to enhance the story through visuals and to flesh out a very complex environment and eco-system.
On the other hand is Transformers 2, which blew stuff up for the sake of blowing something up, and had pretty much nothing of any social value to say.
Sometimes (not always, but sometimes), the spectacle IS the substance.
I think this whole “lack of substance” critique in regards to Avatar storyline reflects a lack of common knowlegde/interest/respect for Aboriginal issues and the history of colonalism.
Please. Transformers2 was not a movie. It was a 2.5 hr long music video. Avatar is true movie making and story telling, even if it is formulaic. Sometimes we just want to see a movie to escape.
@Kevin: Avatar is infinitely better than Transformers. The storyline isn’t entirely unique, but you can tell actual thought went into creating Avatar. It’s not just noise and a waste of film.
@Kevin..c’mon. I agree that the plot of “Avatar” was a little, well, underwhelming. But to say it is only “slightly better” than “Transformers” is insane!! That’s like saying that “Precious” is only “slightly” better than “Glitter”.
Thanks for all the comments everyone. Trust me, I know I’m in the minority but I just did not care for this movie one bit. The world of Pandora was straight out of a geeky 11 year-old’s sketchbook and I could care less about the characters. Everything on Pandora reeked of CGI (a trend I was hoping would go away…apparently not) and did not mesh well with the live-action sequences. Bland, unimaginative filmmaking all-around…I saw nothing ground-breaking other than the 3D gimmick (another trend I hope dies out, but looks like I’m stuck with that too). Oh well, to each there own…but if it wins Best Picture, I’ll lose all hope for humanity.
well according to EW Kevin is right. They gave both movies a B rating. Oh they also gave the proposal a B too. Their reviews are a joke
@JL: let’s not forget they also gave new moon a B+ and No Country for Old Men a C-.
How about a C for There Will Be Blood. Which was on many critics lists for one the greatest films of the decade? Or a D for Fight Club over ten years ago?
WOW. Kevin, that is just…terrible. I hated the first transformers and refused to see the first. The fact that you even saw it in order to formulate your oppinnion means you are paying to support the system you claim to loath. If Avatar wins Best Picture it means people still actually care about stories with a message and meaning, rather than being traumatized by gritty visuals intended to be shocking and origonal, but only because they didn’t have a big enough budget to make the terrible, Transformers-ish movie they intended. Yes I am dishing on District 9. District 9 was only slightly better than Transformers, and if you say otherwise, ask yourself: how often do you thinkg youll watch D9? How many times have you been able to already stumach it? Avatar, (500) days of summer, those are movies you want to see again the minute they are over, because they are GOOD. Although yes, that whole battle at the end of AVATAR, way unnecessary.
lol that battle was the best part of the movie
Invalid, give it a rest, your “facts” are wrong. They gave There Will Be Blood an A. Lisa herself pointed this out to you not long ago. Look it up!
ew did give there will be blood a C. Lisa gave it an A
Hmm. Hers was the only review I saw out there. I think we all know and accept that EW’s ratings are skewed though.
Just writing to support what Kevin said. I also am fully aware that Avatar’s detractors are in the minority. But Avatar’s story has been told a million times, only this time with CGI. Special effects? Impressive. Battle scenes? Top-notch. Best picture? Please. Only if you’re 13.
@BillPaxton – or maybe Kevin did see the movie and that is his opinion?
If Lisa gave There will be blood an A, then that’s EW rating. In the magazine, EW summarizes all the ratings the film has received from various critics and that’s probably where the C came from. But Lisa DID give No Country For Old Men a C-. That movie deserved atleast a B+, which is what Lisa gave New Moon and what Owen gave Transformers 2 a B. I think everyone with some kind of intelligence knows both of those movies deserved about a D-.
I have to stand in minority as well. Avatar was okay, not great.
The story was predictable, though I think that was a benefit compared to other CGI riddled films that throws in some convoluted storytelling, See the Neo-Architect Scene in Matrix Reloaded and whatever that plot-holed story was in Pirates At World’s End.
I found the 3-D glass thing highly overrated. It was like looking through a Viewmaster. I did not experience this “In Your Face” virtual concept that 3-D was supposed to present.
What I did like about Avatar was the emotional expression of Jack Sully as A) he found joy in walking again, and B) he looked like a little kid experiencing the marvels of the world of Pandora, (SPOILER ALERT!!) like when he touched the flowers that would light up, ot the weird creature that jumped in the air and spun like helicopter. That was awesome.
I too am a minority on this one…I have not seen it, don’t have any interest in giving it my $10 and just see a bunch a hype surrounding it. It looks like a video game and don’t understand all the hype, I am sure there will be another movie down the raod that will be “bigger and better” than this one and again the same will happen, makes a ton of money but is it really worth it?
True I didn’t believe that the 3D had any effect or maybe it was just because i wasn’t wearing my glasses who really knows all i know is that i didn’t need it to like it (even though i saw it with the 3D effects). I don’t believe in hypes of movies and I don’t follow trends of movies with the werewolves and vampires and all the junk hopefully that period is over and we can move on. I went to go see this movie without knowing any prior knowledge of it and I loved it. You can’t criticize something if you haven’t experienced and that’s why I can now make fun of twilight. And so what if the plot is played out. You probably have seen Cinderella bunches of times but each one portrays it differently and has it’s own spin to it which makes it unique. As for the battle scene, it was the the most important part of the movie. It was definitely necessary to have in it. SPOILER- especially when the tree fell down that’s when i cried and they had to protect the last one so it had to be done otherwise they would have die out as a species. No memories of the past no life for the future.
Avatar is way better than Trasformers 2. I loved the story on Avatar. I didn’t really care for the special effects to be quite honest. Unfortunately, where I live they are only showing it in 3D. I think all the CGI stuff takes away from the story that is being told. I think that even without all the special effects Avatar would still be doing well at the box office.
Me too. I think it deserves the money and praise that it’s getting. It’s just that good of a movie! James Cameron is a genius!
I’m glad you acknowledge that people were seeing other movies too, John! Yes, Avatar is blowing up, but the ther eleven movies in the Top 12 earned $98 million dollars altogether! Here are my thoughts:
You’re cute. Take your shirt off.
Grady you are hot!!!
Grady, you are really cute… but do you live in your parents’ attic?
Why? Are you a fan of wife-beating egomaniac James Cameron?
I would be happier if it was good and making money maybe since they are making so much I can have my $15 back I wasted???
I’m sure Avatar will beat Titanic both domestically and internationally.
I agree. Leave it to James Cameron to beat his own unbeatable record. Ridiculous. If the first Avatar is doing this well, I don’t even want to think about what the sequels are going to do.
This is probably a stupid question: but there are going to be sequels? That’s awesome.
Yup, Laura. Before Avatar even came out, Cameron talked about how he would like to make two sequels. And seeing as how the first is so successful, I’m sure he’ll follow it up.
That will be great…in 10 years! heh
@AmbientLite: I know right! Didn’t Cameron say it took him like 15 years just to create Avatar? I really hope he also created the sequels during that time as well or we’re going to be waiting a long time.
Actually, leave it to James Cameron to beat his wives.
James Cameron is the best director out there. So what if he has cheesy lines in his movies, he sure knows how to tell a good story that looks good.
Insane #’s. Cameron is now in a league of his own. I’m going tomorrow for my second Avatar viewing.
still no avatar cover? when is ew going to realize they were wrong about avatar? how about that soft opening owen? you lost what little credibility you had. keep hyping the garbage ew.
maybe when avatar wins awards. ew will jump on the bandwagon eventually. come on ew six twilight covers?
Because they are losing their core audience. Continually pandering to twilight, adam lambert, and glee acolytes.
why to do you continue to visit this website if you think it has no credibility? Owen is awesome.
I generally like their TV coverage and some of their movie coverage (though they tend to beat certain topics to death). And I do like Owen and Lisa but they tend to miss the boat occasionally. Transformers 2 and New Moon being precise cases in point.
Owen compared Avatar to Forrest Gump. Also compared Up In The Air to Pulp Fiction? He stated that avatars “soft opening” was due to lack of story? While other critics were in awe of Avatar.
The “soft opening” (since when is $77M “soft”?) argument was ridiculous, I’m sorry. People need to stop freaking out over opening weekend and learn that a big opening weekend doesn’t count for jack if the stupid thing is just going to drop 75% the next weekend (*cough* Twilight *cough*). And on the flip side, a soft opening weekend can be overcome if word of mouth is good. You know what Titanic made opening week? Like $28M. That’s NOTHING anymore. New Moon made twice as much on its opening weekend than Avatar, but Avatar is going to end up with twice as much money overall.
All the more reason to chill out and WAIT to see how a film does before deciding off the bat that “audiences didn’t respond to it” or whatever.
another reason why it could have had a “soft opening” is because their was a blizzard happening on the east coast so i don’t maybe the fact that everyone was getting snowed in could have something to do with it.
Agreed. If EW doesn’t release an Avatar cover in the next two weeks then there is some obvious cold-shouldering going on here. That’s really messed up. Legitimate magazines like LIFE and Empire leaped at the chance to give Avatar the recognition it deserves. What’s taking EW so long?
American Idol, Adam Lambert, Sandra Bullock, Johnny Depp (what was in this year besides Public Enemies. Which I am pretty sure I was the only one who saw it last summer). All this but no Avatar. Their critics weren’t overwhelmed like the majority of critics were. In fact they wrote an article questioning other critics points of view on Avatar. Plus an article claiming Avatar is on the level of Forrest Gump?
EW is the the biggest bandwagon site on the planet. I remember when the series premiere of TRUEBLOOD came on the review said it was just ok.. now they act as if TRUEBLOOD is the 2nd coming of Christ. Their reviews are known to be a total joke. AVATAR was amazing which is exactly why EW isn’t showing it any love… Its impossible to take EW seriously when all they really give credit to is Twilight and Adam Lambert.
And yet no Avatar cover still. What does it have to do?! I hate to bring up “that franchise” (I REALLY do), but “that franchise” had six covers in a year’s time and Avatar is KICKING ITS ASS and hasn’t gotten a single cover to itself yet (a postage stamp photo in the corner is not a cover, sorry). How ridiculous.
You can use basic math and figure that if it holds steady with its drops, it’ll beat/tie The Dark Knight in early February and has a good chance to have topped Titanic before the Oscars. It has its IMAX/3D screens until Alice in Wonderland comes out in March.
It may even be #1 next week (Book of Eli would probably need $30M+ to top it) and the next (when nothing of note comes out).
The thing’s a monster. I hope naysayers and doubters feel appropriately idiotic right now.
EW staff probably goofed on Avatar and called it smurfs in space. ” Why put on the cover if we they think it’s going to suck and bomb.” The movie is an awesome experience.
Wasn’t there a Titanic cover 13 years ago talking about just that? How the movie was in trouble, how much money had been spent on it etc? Nobody expected Titanic to become the highest grossest movie in history (not counting inflation).
Does EW ever do covers of animated-type characters? Or only human entertainers? I wonder if that might be the reason. I haven’t subscribed as long as some of you, so has there ever been a ‘non-human’ cover feature??
I remember a Lion King cover (showing my age). I assume there has been a Simpsons cover at some point, but I don’t remember.
Last night I was watching The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special… and they flipped thru a stack of magazine covers that featured The Simpsons. There were several EW covers. It kinda hit home how crappy the covers have been lately. Years ago, they used to do bold colored backgrounds and interesting perspectives. These days it’s just actor’s mug shot against white background.
Ah, thanks. I was wondering if that might be the reason. Now I can officially be on board with the “EW’s cover choices and timing is nuts” campaign.
See how awesome their covers used to be: http://www.ew.com/ew/inside/issue/0,,ewTax:945,00.html
EW the only critics (I know of)not on board with the avatar phenomenon. Congrats you gave the proposal and avatar the same review. EW will look back in few years (if they are still around. after pandering to the wrong audience) and praise avatar. Praise the event movie of the last ten years. Plus all the accolades to surely follow.
I like EW, and am a subscriber, but their movie reviews are some of the most pathetic I’ve ever read. They’ve been that way for years. If EW gives a movie a C rating, I’ll always give the movie a closer look, thinking it may be worth seeing.
HAHA… I do the same thing… usually a C from them means better than what you’d expect.
Like i say, go see it for yourself and you be the judge of it
i feel bad for other movies not getting the extra $3 to $6 bump in ticket price for the 3-D, I wonder if they take that fee out of the grosses so as not to inflate them?
I don’t feel bad for anyone. Cameron and Co. worked hard to develop their technology and create a technically superior film meant to be seen in 3D. Why shouldn’t they get that extra boon over other filmmakers who didn’t do that additional work? And people ARE WILLING TO PAY for the 3D experience, so why should it be considered cheating?
I swear, I’m so sick of the ridiculous “It’s not fair because it’s 3D” argument that I could scream.
The reason is because that makes the numbers misleading. Although it makes more money, fewer people are seeing it.
“Although it makes more money, fewer people are seeing it.”
Aaannd, so? I still don’t get the argument.
If BMW sells 10 cars for $40,000 apiece, and Ford sells 20 cars for $15,000 apiece, which one was more successful? Ford sold more individual cars, but BMW made more money. Which one do YOU think investors care about?
Haha, that’s almost funny! You see if any industry opens itself a new niche with specialist (higher) pricing for a new service/product that it’s just launched AND it immediately starts sells like hot-cakes then that’s what’s known in everyman terms as a WIN-WIN SITUATION for everyone!!
Also, I’m full of admiration for anyone who does advance things and pioneers ahead creating new paths for others to use…
I’m glad Avatar is doing so well. I saw it on Friday and loved it
I like the Dark Crystal better.
I’m afraid to see Avatar because I absolutely loathed Titanic. Hated every (long) minute of it. Should I let my bias stand in the way of seeing this or does it stand on it’s own merit? It looks fabulous, I’m just worried I might be dissapointed.
It’s nothing like Titanic! Sure, they’re both insanely long, but Titanic was a period piece/romance.. This is an epic in space and a visual splendor! Nothing similar at all…
… and I don’t know why my name is @Q.. seeing as you are not Q
Go see it – you’ll love it! My husband is a firm believer in “wait til it’s on dvd” and we’ve seen it twice at his request.
Just go see it. You’re better off seeing it and being underwhelmed than missing the boat (no pun intended) and missing out on what’s turning into a cultural event. You don’t want to be the only person you know in 10 years who never saw it in theaters.
It’s also not something that will be nearly as powerful/impressive at home as it is in theaters. Another reason to see it before DVD/Blu-Ray.
Don’t see Avatar if you want a movie with a complicated plot like, say, The Matrix. However, the plot doesn’t *suck* (it /is/ a love story, though) and the CGI is AMAZING. If the plot bothers you, you should be able to distract yourself away from it by watching the details in the background and analyzing the graphics. My second viewing I spent 3/4 of the movie focusing on the CGI eyes and how the programmers got the exact amount of moisture in them so they didn’t look flat – a pretty big accomplishment since no previous CGI movie has been able to replicate eyes worth a darn.
The only think Titanic and Avatar have in common is that neither plot is very original. Okay, they’re both kind of touchy-feely movies, but as visually beautiful as Titanic was, Avatar blows it way out of the water. I came out of Avatar feeling like the movie wasn’t long enough. There was no part of it that made you sit and squirm and wish the plot would move faster. It’s entertaining from beginning to ending. You WILL be sucked right into this movie. Guaranteed.
I actually disliked Avatar more than I disliked Titanic. Titanic was bad but never boring. Avatar is bad AND boring for 2 hrs. before the stellar ending. I really think that the art designers for Avatar should be blacklisted for soiling movie screens with that day-glo neon mess…Ugliest. Visuals. Ever.
You are in the minority! “Avatar” kicked ass all around! $400 million domestic……..and counting!!!
Did you even see the movie or were you watching the cartoon on the nicktoons. Hands down the greatest visual movie I have ever seen.
Yes, I saw it. If you’re impressed with day-glo neon, you must love the cheesy “dark rides” at amusement parks and carnivals.
Kevin I wasn’t as disappointed in the visuals as the actual story telling. I did like seeing JP from Grandma’s Boy in there…..
Kevin – youre a full fledged ret*rd and should be wring movie reviews for EW.
Geeks arguing about a movie. Bye, guys! I’m bored! yawn.
Don’t see Avatar then. I don’t think you will like it. Either it will confirm your suspicions and feel too similar to Titanic (in terms of story structure and corny dialogue) or you will just be let down by the fact that everyone else was overpraising the movie. It’s a no-win situation. The movie is pure eye-candy, it has a worthwhile message, and it has earned all the Oscar nominations I’m sure it will end up getting. I don’t think it is Best Picture material and winning that award will only manage to get the movie comparisons to other flashy (yet shallow) movies like The Greatest Show on Earth and Around the World in 80 Days. It is not the best movie this year but near the top.
My sister didn’t like Titanic very much either, but she saw Avatar with me and loved it
You should see it based on Terminator 1 and 2, The Abyss, Aliens, True Lies…Cameron is a bad ass.
I didn’t like Titanic either and I’m a girl so….yea anyway Avatar is nothing like that and you should really see it
This is great for the industry and the economy. I mean, it has to be!
Cameron said in his 60 Minutes interview that, however well or poorly the movie did, he kept 2,000 people employed for two years. You have to respect/appreciate that, whatever your opinion of the man. I hate to sound Randian, but I sense a lot of hostility toward one of the few “big name” directors out there who is still innovating and trying new things. Perhaps it’s easier for people to take cheapshots at Cameron than do something on their own?
It is now official: TITANIC is going to fall to #2 both in the US and overseas. This movie is a monster.
Good for “Avatar”. Yes, I love to root for good stuff! What’s even more amusing is the fact that there are no more people whining about “New Moon” and it’s box office power and skepticism regarding Cameron’s film! Well…..um, oops!! Go Cameron!! Go “Avatar”!
I didn’t think Avatar would beat New Moon, but I underestimated it – I didn’t really know anything about it at the time. I’ve seen both, and I like both (they’re completely different movies).
Kinda weird that you’re bringing that up though.
Wait… what?!
What?
Haha! I knew you’d love it.
The little glowy dots on their faces and bodies reminded me of something…what is it…oh, yeah! SPARKLES.
I see you, crispy.
I. See. You.
LOL My better half and I have been making fun of the “I see you” line for 3 weeks now. As much as I love the movie, I’m willing to admit that line was lame!
It’s a cheese-tastic line! I plan to enjoy it for weeks to come…then again I still quote Wayne’s World…shyeah, right!
I thought it was a great movie. Body count was a little high for my tastes, but that aside it was a most excellent adventure and I enjoyed every minute of it. I’m surprised people have been so vehemently attacking the plot and storyline, I didn’t find it lacking. Maybe I’m simple, maybe their standards are too high – but was thoroughly entertained.
You didn’t expect it to beat new moon?? Are you serious? Last time I checked, New Moon wasn’t the film to beat in the first place. It only made like 600 mil worldwide. It’s not even in the top 5 of 2009.
I think it will pass Titanic Worlwide record, not sure if it will make it Domestically.
It will. It could easily be hovering around $550 million by early February. All it needs is an Oscar-nomination boost to get there. It also has all of its IMAX and 3D screens until March. It’ll get there.
To be honest, I’m more worried about beating Titanic’s worldwide overall than domestic. I think domestic is pretty doable right now. Getting to $1.8 billion is going to be tougher, I think.
This film is a monster. Raises lots of expectations for Avatar 2 and its box office run.