LOS ANGELES — James Cameron’s “Avatar” is on a course to sink “Titanic” at the box office.
No. 1 for the sixth-straight weekend with $36 million, the 20th Century Fox sci-fi spectacle lifted its domestic total to $552.8 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. “Avatar” raised its worldwide total to $1.841 billion. That’s $2 million shy of first place behind Cameron’s last movie, the 1997 shipwreck epic “Titanic,” at $1.843 billion.
The studio said “Avatar” has hit $1.29 billion in international ticket sales, passing the $1.24 billion mark set by “Titanic.” The saga set on the alien world of Pandora is also en route to overtake “Titanic” in domestic sales. After 37 days in theaters, “Avatar” soared past “The Dark Knight” on Saturday to become the second highest grossing film.
“Avatar” is also positioned to win acclaim during awards season. While the computer-assisted performances didn’t earn any honors at Saturday’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, it captured the best drama and director trophies at last week’s Golden Globes and is considered a likely best-picture front runner when Oscar nominations are announced Feb. 2.
“Legion,” featuring Paul Bettany as an Armageddon-fighting fallen angel, debuted behind “Avatar” at No. 2 with $18.2 million. The family fantasy comedy “Tooth Fairy,” starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as a hockey player who spreads his wings as a magical deity, took flight in the No. 4 spot with $14.5 million.
In the No. 3 position was “The Book of Eli” at $17 million in its second week. The post-apocalyptic flick stars Denzel Washington as a traveling prophet who battles a villainous gang leader played by Gary Oldman while protecting the last known Bible.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
