James Carmeron’s Avatar has now passed the $1 billion ticket sales barrier worldwide (that's a US billion, of course) to become the fourth most lucrative film in cinema history. And it's managed it in just 17 days.
Following the New Year weekend, Avatar had managed to amass $1.02 billion internationally - that's $350 million in North America and a further $670.2 overseas. Only Cameron’s own Titanic, The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King and Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest have done better business, and it looks very likely that Avatar will swiftly pass the targets set by those last two (which stand $1.12 billion and £1.06 billion respectively). It will take some going to best Titanic’s massive £1.84 billion haul, though.
Of course, you have to factor in the fact that Avatar is doing a huge amount of business on 3D and IMAX screens, which command higher ticket prices. But even accepting that, Avatar is clearly a huge smash hit. Looks like 3D is here to stay, folks.
