Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
"Avatar" hits $1.6 billion worldwide
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Asia Pacific
World
"Avatar" hits $1.6 billion worldwide
Reuters - 1 hour 54 minutes ago
Send
IM Story
Print
LOS ANGELES - In an unprecedented display of strength, "Avatar" led the worldwide box office for a fifth consecutive, fast catching up on all-time champ "Titanic," distributor 20th Century Fox said on Sunday.
James Cameron's sci-fi spectacular has now earned $1.6 billion, just $237 million short of the $1.8 billion record set by the filmmaker's "Titanic" in 1998.
"Titanic was a ship. Avatar's a rocket ship," said Chris Aronson, Fox's senior vice-president of domestic distribution.
The North American contribution stands at $491.8 million -- the third-highest tally of all time -- thanks to a $41.3 million weekend. Fox, a unit of News Corp, expects it to hit $500 million on Monday, when business will get a boost from the U.S. Martin Luther King holiday.
That will mark the film's 32nd day of release. By contrast, "Titanic" took 98 days to reach that tally on its way to a record $601 million. On the other hand, "Avatar" sales are inflated by higher ticket prices in general and premium pricing for 3-D screenings.
Aronson said he expected "Avatar" to surpass the $533 million haul of 2008's "The Dark Knight" next weekend, leaving only "Titanic" ahead of it. The No. 3 slot was previously held by "Star Wars" with $461 million.
Aronson said the $600 million level is "within our sights," and he predicted the February 2 announcement of the Academy Award nominations to pique interest.
"AVATAR" AT $1.1 BILLION OVERSEAS
"Avatar" is enjoying strong holds every weekend. In the current period, it was off just 18 percent. "Titanic" was the last movie to lead the box office for five consecutive weekends, although "Avatar" might struggle to reach its record of 15 unbroken weekends.
The foreign total stands at $1.1 billion after a $125 million weekend. "Avatar" trails the "Titanic" overseas haul of $1.2 billion by just $127 million.
"Avatar" is the tale of a disabled ex-Marine sent from Earth to infiltrate a race of 10-foot blue aliens and persuade them to let his employer mine their homeland for natural resources. It was reportedly the most expensive film ever made, with a budget of at least $300 million.
Elsewhere in North America, Denzel Washington's "The Book of Eli" opened at No. 2 with $31.6 million, the actor's second-best opening after the $43 million launch of 2007's "American Gangster." Young men accounted for about two-thirds of the audience for the Christian-themed apocalyptic thriller, said distributor Warner Bros. Pictures.
The $80 million film was produced by FedEx Corp Chairman Fred Smith's Alcon Prods., and distributed for a fee by Warner's Time Warner Inc parent. Alcon principal Andrew Kosove said he expected the film to reach the mid-$80 million range, surpassing the breakeven point of $67 million after DVD and TV sales are factored in.
Director Peter Jackson's adaptation of "The Lovely Bones" took the No. 3 spot with $17.1 million in its first weekend of national release, as the "Twilight" crowd flocked to the supernatural murder story.
Distributor Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom Inc. said women accounted for almost three-quarters of the audience, and 40 percent of moviegoers were aged under 20.
The big-screen version of the Alice Sebold novel about a murdered girl had played in a total of three theaters in New York and Los Angeles for the past five weeks. Its total now stands at $17.5 million.
The only other major new release was Hong Kong action hero Jackie Chan's family comedy "The Spy Next Door," which opened at No. 6 with a modest $9.7 million. It was released by Lionsgate, a unit of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Filmmaker: Movie about balloon dad could clear him AP - Monday, January 18
"Avatar" hits $1.6 billion worldwide Reuters - 1 hour 54 minutes ago
O'Brien, NBC separation may upstage Golden Globes Reuters - Monday, January 18
Globe nominees mix wild fantasy, harsh reality AP - Monday, January 18
Hollywood gets ready for Golden Globes AP - Monday, January 18
News Search
Top Stories
Pope to visit Rome synagogue amid Jewish anger
Obama's 1st yr marked by diplomacy, but few results
Obama surprises Michelle with birthday dinner
British bank sector hails Obama bank levy as fair
Rescuers battle to reach Haitians still alive in rubble
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Obama surprises Michelle with birthday dinner
Cancer-stricken Dennis Hopper files for divorce
Johnson & Johnson accused of drug kickbacks
Obama's 1st yr marked by diplomacy, but few results
Pope to visit Rome synagogue amid Jewish anger
More Most Viewed »
Beat the blues by going to bed early: study
Huge tomb found at Egypt's Saqqara pyramid
Woman who saved Anne Frank's diary dead at 100
Scientists praise Obama as Doomsday clock reset
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Monday, 18 January 2010 Ex-housekeeper alleges abuse by Israeli PM's wife
US-TECH Summary
Pope to visit Rome synagogue amid Jewish anger
Afghan president to offer Taliban new peace plan
Fearful Haiti quake survivors turn to God for help
|
Karzai to offer Taliban new peace plan
Venezuela's Chavez nationalizes French-owned retailer
|
Saddam official Tareq Aziz hospitalized
Billionaire seen winning tight Chile vote
|
Northern Irish leaders shake hands for first time
|
Angola arrests a third rights activist in Cabinda
|
Quake-hit Haiti's cabinet meets -- in the open-air
|
Turner's bid for park bison stokes wildlife debate
Afghan lawmakers adjourn despite Cabinet standoff
Taliban kidnap two Chinese engineers, four Afghans
Obama to parishioners: Keep faith in hard times
Wall St sets bar higher for IBM in 2010 after rally
|
US supports Afghan plan to reintegrate Taliban
MySQL founder turns to China, Russia to halt Oracle
|
Drug abuse in US prisons is tough to stamp out
182 more ex-child soldiers leave camps in Nepal
4,000 homeless, 1 girl killed in Manila slum fire
No progress in RI immigrant prison release program
Haiti's history created bond with many US blacks
Pakistani officials: Suspected US drone kills 20
Plug being pulled on decades-old navigation system
Police: Minor sidewalk squabble leads to stabbing
Bush, Clinton: Haiti response not about politics
Filipino WWII veterans still waiting for payments
NASA listens for silent Mars lander
Globe nominees mix wild fantasy, harsh reality
Hollywood gets ready for Golden Globes
Avatar hits $1.6 billion worldwide
|
O'Brien, NBC separation may upstage Golden Globes
|
Filmmaker: Movie about balloon dad could clear him
"Avatar" hits $1.6 billion worldwide
O'Brien, NBC separation may upstage Golden Globes
Globe nominees mix wild fantasy, harsh reality
Taliban launches attacks on central Kabul
Ukraine vote heads for tense run-off
U.S. troops to help Haiti's security; aid flows in
|
Sony's PlayStation is 'poison' to children: Chavez
Marines exit Iraq in first wave of US forces out
Why coastal oil spills can pollute for decades: study
Yanukovich, Tymoshenko qualify for Ukraine run-off: polls
MySQL founder turns to China, Russia to halt Oracle
Saab drivers hit the road to support car brand
Suicide bombers, gunmen attack central Kabul
|
Iran state TV cracks open door to opposition
Netanyahu, Merkel to meet on Iran, Palestinian issues
|
Iraq's 'Chemical Ali' sentenced to death
Chinese kidnapped as Karzai mulls Taliban strategy
Chavez says U.S. occupying Haiti in name of aid
|
Iraq's "Chemical Ali" gets 4th death sentence
Al Qaeda: Yemen claims of killing fighters untrue
|
Iran ex-prosecutor denies role in torture deaths
Iraq's 'Chemical Ali' to hang for 1988 gas attack
Kenyan police raid Somali suburb after riots
|
Haiti's voodoo priests object to mass burials
|
Chile shifts right as billionaire wins presidency
|
Fearful Haiti quake survivors turn to God for help
|
Ukraine PM Tymoshenko to face old rival in runoff
|
Sony's PlayStation is 'poison' to children: Chavez
Motorola plans 5-6 smartphones in China this year
|
Can newspaper muckraking carry on in nonprofits?
5 Americans detained in Pakistan allege torture
CAPITAL CULTURE: Obama cites value of volunteerism
China to expand smoking bans in 7 major cities
US Shiites tentatively try to Americanize
Gunbattle reported in Afghan capital
Tips for getting involved in national service
Attorney: Man in JFK breach just used 'wrong door'
Myanmar court hears Suu Kyi appeal of house arrest
5 people found slain in southeast Texas home
Support for Japan PM drops amid cash probe: polls
Shanghai targeted in China phone porn crackdown
More cold to compound misery in China's Xinjiang
Search halted for potential CA boat crash victims
Extreme cold, snow kills 4 in northwest China
4 Miss. college students killed in Ala. motel fire
Police arrest man accused of "time zone" cheating
Earthquake in China kills 7 people
15 sickened on flight from US Virgin Islands to NC
Globe nominees mix wild fantasy, harsh reality
Seoul shares rise 0.6 pct; LG Elec, KEPCO advance
IMF chief: global recovery stronger than expected
S.Korea finmin warns against hasty policy exit
China Eastern surges on 2009 profit expectations
PAKISTAN
Avatar, Hangover take home top Golden Globes
|
Glee sings top TV show tune at Golden Globes
|
Ricky Gervais falls flat at Golden Globes
|
RPT-UPDATE 1-Korea Life Insurance IPO planned for Q1- Hanwha
Golden Globe fashion fights gloom of Haiti, rain
|
Oil price drop, Wall Street hit Asian shares
U.S. Juggles Aid And Military Logistics, Relief Suppliers Complain
Simon Cowell recruiting X Factor judges
|
Taiwan dlr up, market watches govt fund selling, QDII
Obama Attends Church Founded in 1866 By Seven Freed Slaves
Tsunami-generating quake possible off Indonesia: scientists
Seoul shares down on banks; KEPCO, Doosan Heavy rally
Chaotic Conditions In Haiti Still Hamper Distribution Of Disaster Relief Supplies
Peace Activist Cindy Sheehan Concludes Protest In Front Of Cheney's House
S.Korea firms urge govt caution over exit strategy
'Mad Men' wins third drama award in a row
Ricky Gervais falls flat at Golden Globes
Suspected U.S. Missile Attack Kills 12 In Pakistan
Haitian-American Man Behind JFK Security Breach, Police Say
Hillary Clinton Arrives In Haiti, Meets With President Preval And Reassures People
Classy, glitzy, 'Golden Globes' failed as a party
Obama Announces Clinton And Bush Teaming Up To Help Haiti
Cameron's `Avatar' wins best drama honor at Globes
Breaking: JFK Terminal Security Fiasco, Passengers Re-screening Going On
"Glee" sings top TV show tune at Golden Globes
'Avatar' wins top honors at Golden Globes
Avatar scores best film and director at Golden Globes
Leno gets support from staff; O'Brien ratings soar
Actor Todd Lasance to plea to cocaine charge
Militants launch multiple attacks across Kabul
Toyota to double global hybrid output: report
Stars Announced To Perform At Hope For Haiti Event
Turk who shot Pope John Paul released from prison
|
Israeli police arrest 5 in West Bank mosque blaze
Iran says sees signs of progress in nuclear talks
|
Motorola plans 5-6 smartphones in China this year
Meryl Streep, Sandra Bullock Share Best Actress Win At The Critics Choice Awards
Rights groups urge Hamas to allow war crimes probe
UK court scraps curfews on two terrorism suspects
|
Meryl Streep, Sandra Bullock, "Avatar" Win Golden Globes
Qaeda says fighters alive, Yemen vows more strikes
|
Iran tries five people over December unrest
|
Somali pirates free oil tanker after record ransom
|
Saudis say Sept blast killed 3 wanted militants
|
CORRECTED: Gunmen kill five in Iraqi NGO office
|
US-TECH Summary
Motorola plans 5-6 smartphones in China this year
Google probing possible inside help on attack
|
Handset market recovery in focus after weak 2009
|
Turkey blocking 3,700 websites: OSCE
|
ASML Q4 order book seen to signal tech rebound
|
Rapes of elderly women terrify central Texas towns
UK High Court rules for Nokia vs IPCom
|
Obama to celebrate MLK's life and legacy
Leno gets support from staff
Shanghai Expo plans before, after Haiti exhibits
Ex-Minn. senator ousted by Al Franken won't be gov
Cleveland Orchestra musicians strike over contract
China's 1,459-year-old Buddha gets $10.8M facelift
Turkmens to take down golden monument of ex-leader
5 Americans detained in Pakistan allege torture
China to expand smoking bans in 7 major cities
SKorea: Talks with North still on despite threats
Vietnam aims to carve world's biggest jade Buddha
Activist freed on bail after arrest in India
Taiwan artist carves 'world's tiniest tiger'
Taliban militants launch attack on Afghan capital
Conan O'Brien finalizing exit from NBC
|
Pakistani rupee weakens vs dollar; stocks end lower
Google says 'business as usual' in China
S.Korea's rate hike seen premature- OECD
JAL shares hit all-time low of $0.05
China's 2009 web earnings reach 11 billion dollars
The Golden Globes: As It Happened
Japan's recovery still fragile: finance minister
Mazda, Ford deny plans to dismantle China venture
King Cameron redux? `Avatar' aims for Oscar glory
Obama musical thrills audiences in Germany
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Conan O'Brien finalizing exit from NBC
Backstage and on the red carpet at Golden Globes
Simon Cowell recruiting "X Factor" judges
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights