Avatar makes big money at the worldwide box office!

[Crimson Dynamonger]

So after talking to some of my friends, we are now convinced that James Cameron might just be the most epic stealth troll in the history of cinema. 

The environmentalist message is quite obviously a red herring and the movie is really about Internet addiction:

• Jake Sully, dissatisfied with his current life, seeks a new one in the form of an avatar (why do people flock to games like WoW?)
• Jake's avatar, although semi-similar looking to him, is far more muscular and athletic (Internet Tough Guy persona)
• Colonel Quaritch (big muscular fellow) looks down upon the avatar program the same way a lot of people bully WoW players for their obsessiveness
• He starts spending too much time in this avatar body and he begins to forget which is the "real" world
• Not sure how to phrase this without incurring spoilers but...the Na'vi and their link to Pandora.  That is all

Sometimes all of the intellectualism in the world can't deny a fun story

True that. Hence why the above analysis should be taken with a heavy grain of salt.

[Metal Head]

It will become the #2 movie of all time in 20 days (worldwide, that is, right behind Titanic):

http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/avatar-now-2-all-time-grossing-movie-and-in-just-20-days/

In North America, it sits at $367.5 million, but I have a feeling it has legs and may surpass quite a few more films. 

http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=avatar.htm

Could it take down The Dark Knight?  Maybe!  BUT, TDK still has some records:

http://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/fastest.htm?page=350&p=.htm

heath

[Mr_Fabulous]

So after talking to some of my friends, we are now convinced that James Cameron might just be the most epic stealth troll in the history of cinema. 

Sometimes all of the intellectualism in the world can't deny a fun story

True that. Hence why the above analysis should be taken with a heavy grain of salt.

The only way I'm going to be able to stomach this turn of events is if people rapidly intellectualize the **** out of Avatar. Since you can't really rely on the film as-written to satisfy intellectual criticism, it's up to excellent posts like that to carry the burden.

[Metal Head]

http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/avatar-spoiler-alert-avatar-spoiler-alert/

Mr. Fabulous will love this.

heath

[Mr_Fabulous]

http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/avatar-spoiler-alert-avatar-spoiler-alert/

Mr. Fabulous will love this.

heath

All too true. What's especially bothersome is that everyone seems to know it's bland and uninspired but they'll still gush over how much Avatar ruled.

Goddamnit.

[Metal Head]

I saw it finally in 3D.  I thought the FX and 3D were great and the story was extremely preachy and tree hugger, but that's what Cameron said (the tree hugger part).

heath

[Metal Head]

Avatar sits behind Titanic with 1.375 billion worldwide:

http://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/

In North America, it's #5 (and rising) with $441 million:

http://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/domestic.htm

WOW!  And it may take Titanic:

http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/movietickets-evp-predicts-avatar-will-break-titanic-box-office-record/

I guess don't bet against James Cameron!!!

heath

[Metal Head]

Avatar sits at over $500 million North American box office (with The Dark Knight in its sites) and $1.6 billion worldwide, about to overtake Titanic.  Fox must love this because they didn't share the b.o. (and the budget) with another major studio.  Titanic's worldwide b.o. was Fox's, but Paramount got North America.  And they only put up $65 million of its $200 million budget.

Then again, private companies ponied up the cash for Avatar with Fox, but who knows how much.

http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/book-of-eli-de-thrones-avatar-friday-but-camerons-3d-will-reign-for-weekend-teen-girls-turn-out-for-3-lovely-bones/

heath

[Metal Head]

Avatar is about $201 million from beating Titanic's worldwide box office record. 

Avatar box office (domestic, worldwide): http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=avatar.htm

Titanic box office (domestic, worldwide): http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=titanic.htm

And what the heck, The Dark Knight (domestic, worldwide): http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=darkknight.htm  (Avatar's about $24 million away from beating TDK's domestic haul, about $92 million from Titanic)

heath

[Iron Centurion]

Here's a funny story:  This afternoon I was browsing at my local Barnes & Noble, when a family walked passed, complaining about not seeing Avatar; every theater showing it is still sold out!   

[Mr_Fabulous]

I heard two developmentally-disabled people talking about how awesome Avatar was for at least an hour and a half, I stand by that as a measure of its quality.

[Iron Mark]

I heard two developmentally-disabled people talking about how awesome Avatar was for at least an hour and a half, I stand by that as a measure of its quality.

 

[The IronJedi]

I heard two developmentally-disabled people talking about how awesome Avatar was for at least an hour and a half, I stand by that as a measure of its quality.

And sometimes d-d people have keener insight into the human condition than the average person. Just sayin'. 

[Metal Head]

Avatar should pass The Dark Knight as the number 2 box office hit in the domestic market by Sunday, with $550 million.  international box office numbers coming.

http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/avatar-holds-on-and-on-only-12-legion-2-and-tooth-fairy-4-les-moonves-foray-into-film-flops/

heath

[Tetragrammaton]

I'm truly shocked at how much money Avatar has brought in. Never thought it would challenge Titanic numbers, but there it is.