Avatar Passes $250 Million in 12 Days

Avatar continues to draw massive crowds and after 12 days has grossed $250.4 million. Only four movies have reached the $250 million mark faster but all of them had much larger opening weekends than Avatar. Some of the reason why it is holding so well has to be attributed to the higher ticket prices from 3D and IMAX screens but it is the word-of-mouth that is the primary driver of success. The worldwide total gross is now nearing $700 million.

It is remarkable looking at the weekday numbers which have only slightly dipped compared to what has been made during the weekends. They are actually stronger this week than last. Monday brought in $19.4 million while Tuesday produced $18.3 million. Those takes represented increases of 18% and 13% vs last week.

All this of course comes off a weekend that fell only 2% from the opening weekend. Needless to say Avatar is showing tremendous strength and there have been no indications that it will hit a wall any time soon. It also appears to now be a lock for a Best Picture nomination at the Academy Awards which will provide it yet another boost in mid-January. Whether Avatar will become the largest grossing movie of all time is still in question but it is already profitable and will cruise past $300 million domestic on Friday or Saturday.