Weekend Boxoffice Chart

[Evil Avatar]

http://evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/movies/avatar_poster.jpg

Reigning champ Avatar easily beat newcomer Sherlock Holmes at the Christmas holiday box office in North America after a closely followed duel that saw both films post sizzling sales.

Here is the Weekend Boxoffice Chart for the weekend of December 25th to December 27th.

Avatar $75.0/$212.2
Sherlock Holmes $65.3/$65.8
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel $50.2/$77.0
It's Complicated $22.1/$22.1
Up in the Air $11.5/$24.5
The Blind Side $11.7/$184.3
The Princess and the Frog $8.6/$63.3
Nine $5.5/$5.9
Did You Hear About the Morgans? $5.0/$15.5
Invictus $4.3/$23.3
The Twilight Saga: New Moon $3.0/$280.9
A Christmas Carol $1.3/$135.9
The little ones and I helped push 'The Squeakquel' to #3. The kids had so much popcorn they got sick. It was a great time!

[pwnophobia]

I saw Sherlock Holmes on Christmas, it wasn't a bad movie, drug on a bit. If you want to see it I'd wait for a rental or a half price theater.

[Phhhh]

I saw Sherlock on Saturday night and Avatar last night in 3D.

They were both great.

Some of the 3d stuff in Avatar was cool, but it didn't blow me away and the glasses hurt my nose :(

[lockwoodx]

Are they still gangster thugs in 'The Squeakquel' ?

[sgtslappy]

I saw Sherlock Holmes on Christmas, it wasn't a bad movie, drug on a bit. If you want to see it I'd wait for a rental or a half price theater.

Disagree, thought it was awesome.

[asimplehero]

Evil hates Avatar and yet enjoys The Squeakquel. Sigh.

[pwnophobia]

Disagree, thought it was awesome.

You're wrong slappy, WRONG!

I could go either way on the movie. I enjoyed it but still don't think it was worth Full Price.

[Evil Avatar]

Evil hates Avatar and yet enjoys The Squeakquel. Sigh.

I said it was a great time, I didn't say it was a good movie. At this age going to the movies is about snacks and trips to the restroom. Watching the movie is secondary.

[Syl]

So, Sherlock Holmes isn't up to Guy Ritchie's standards?

[Venkman]

I said it was a great time, I didn't say it was a good movie. At this age going to the movies is about snacks and trips to the restroom. Watching the movie is secondary.

If you eat the popcorn at my local theater with their "butter flavored topping" (i.e. "empty your intestines fluid"), it becomes all about going to the restroom.

Screamin' squits for the win!

[Evil Avatar]

It is worth mentioning that it was a gangbuster weekend for all movies across the board. Everything did much better than expectations. I guess post-X-Mas a lot of people were out hitting the theater this weekend.

It is kinda funny, because it seemed like we didn't get as many sappy 'Oscar' style dramas this season, but this would have been the perfect weekend to launch one.

[Venkman]

Evil hates Avatar and yet enjoys The Squeakquel. Sigh.

I have a theory.

The movie is Avatar. The site founder is Evil Avatar.



Our Evil Avatar is a 10 foot tall blue alien with a goatee. Of course he hates James Cameron's latest! ;)

[pwnophobia]

It is worth mentioning that it was a gangbuster weekend for all movies across the board.

My local theater was packed on Christmas day, all day. Lots of families and adults going to see movies.

[PacerDawn]

Avatar (3D) was sold out for the matinee on Sunday when we went (surprise, it only shows 4 times in 3D during the day), so we went to see Holmes. I'm betting that the high numbers Holmes got were partially helped by people showing up to the theater, seeing Avatar 3D sold out, and going to that instead (it's what we did).

Despite it being our second choice, GREAT popcorn movie, I really liked it a lot. Robert Downy Jr is really good in just about every movie he is in. Also went to see Invictus with my dad. You can't go wrong with a Clint Eastwood movie it seems.

[lockwoodx]

It is worth mentioning that it was a gangbuster weekend for all movies across the board. Everything did much better than expectations. I guess post-X-Mas a lot of people were out hitting the theater this weekend.

It is kinda funny, because it seemed like we didn't get as many sappy 'Oscar' style dramas this season, but this would have been the perfect weekend to launch one.

Tickets make good stocking stuffers.

[Vandenh]

Sherlock Holmes was shit. Fucking disgrace.

[bskeillor]

Avatar actually broke The Dark Knight's second weekend record by $500,000. It's actual gross was $75.6 million.

Personally I'm glad this is such a big hit, and right now the sky's the limit for it's final gross.

[Your Good Twin]

My fucking family has no concept of getting to the theatre early on opening day if you want good seats to a movie. So what happens? First row for "Sherlock Holmes" and they're annoyed and I have to be quiet about it so as not to put a sour mood on everyone for Christmas. *grumble grumble*

Regardless of shitty seats, I enjoyed the movie way more than I expected to. I still think it was disgraceful to:
A. cast a non-English actor for the role, especially when there are so many other good choices and
B. to "Michael Bay" it up with explosions and fighting and cute female supporting cast. That said, you still get plenty of Sherlock Holmes / House MD / palm-reader style deducing based on minor details (which is always enjoyable to me) and some fun Sherlock case-solving. Also, the dialogue is snappy and well-written. All in all, not a bad movie to have to see with the family. Worth renting.

[Evil Avatar]

Where are you people going to movies that are sold out? The theater I go to is almost always empty. We went to see The Squeakquel and the theater was almost empty.

The entire place was pretty much empty.

[bskeillor]

We saw Sherlock Holmes on Christmas Day, 11:45 am and that show was almost sold out. When we left I have never seen that theatre as busy as it was that day.

[Anenome]

I still think it was disgraceful to:
A. cast a non-English actor for the role, especially when there are so many other good choices and
B. to "Michael Bay" it up with explosions and fighting and cute female supporting cast. That said, you still get plenty of Sherlock Holmes / House MD / palm-reader style deducing based on minor details (which is always enjoyable to me) and some fun Sherlock case-solving. Also, the dialogue is snappy and well-written. All in all, not a bad movie to have to see with the family. Worth renting.

- I agree totally. I completely dislike taking Sherlock Holmes into action-star territory. There's no way that Sherlock Holmes should be able to fight as well as depicted in the movie. I can buy that Watson can fight, sure, but the best thing about Sherlock was his deductive abilities, not his strategy during a fight, which is bunk anyway for anyone who knows the first thing about martial ability.

I don't appreciate the attempt to weave in Moriarty either, as if a sequel was guaranteed. Just start the second movie with Moriarty, you don't need to introduce him in the first one.

That said, I did like posing Holmes as an eccentric and Watson as the everyman, that was well done. It just wasn't carried quite far enough.

It seems like the action was injected to make up for what would've been a rather poor film otherwise. The whole "saw" scene was ridiculous too. People are holding guns and they throw chicken bones into the gears. Right.

Well, I suppose I should be thankful that it wasn't nearly as bad as it could've been. I don't think it was horrible, I just don't like the direction it's been taken in.

[net7runner]

Just saw Avatar. Nooommmmms. Same old story, but DAMN if that isn't a good way to tell it.

Huh, how much did Avatar make last week? I thought it was <$100M, but that doesn't seem possible given these numbers...

[Duskfire]

- I agree totally. I completely dislike taking Sherlock Holmes into action-star territory. There's no way that Sherlock Holmes should be able to fight as well as depicted in the movie. I can buy that Watson can fight, sure, but the best thing about Sherlock was his deductive abilities, not his strategy during a fight, which is bunk anyway for anyone who knows the first thing about martial ability.

I don't appreciate the attempt to weave in Moriarty either, as if a sequel was guaranteed. Just start the second movie with Moriarty, you don't need to introduce him in the first one.

That said, I did like posing Holmes as an eccentric and Watson as the everyman, that was well done. It just wasn't carried quite far enough.

It seems like the action was injected to make up for what would've been a rather poor film otherwise. The whole "saw" scene was ridiculous too. People are holding guns and they throw chicken bones into the gears. Right.

Well, I suppose I should be thankful that it wasn't nearly as bad as it could've been. I don't think it was horrible, I just don't like the direction it's been taken in.

I didnt think the movie was that great either, but they were accurate with his fighting ability. He was an exceptional fighter, being extremely skillful with a sword, his cane and fist fighting (as well as wrestling.)

[Evil Avatar]

Huh, how much did Avatar make last week? I thought it was <$100M, but that doesn't seem possible given these numbers...

It did $77 Million on opening weekend and $75 Million this weekend. You are forgetting about the days in between the weekend.

[Evil Avatar]

I didnt think the movie was that great either, but they were accurate with his fighting ability. He was an exceptional fighter, being extremely skillful with a sword, his cane and fist fighting (as well as wrestling.)

I haven't read a ton of Holmes, but what I do remember of the stories is that Holmes never gets into a fight with anyone. He solves cases with his mind, not brute force.

[Duskfire]

I haven't read a ton of Holmes, but what I do remember of the stories is that Holmes never gets into a fight with anyone. He solves cases with his mind, not brute force.

You are right; he does solve cases with his mind, and he rarely ever fights anyone. But there have been occasions where he has been forced to become physical and he basically dominates his opponent. Watson notes on a few occasions that Holmes is an expert sword fighter, and Holmes mentions when he was younger he was an amateur champion prizefighter who also studied alot of martial arts and wrestling.

The movie had a more action orientated Holmes then as seen in the books, but I thought it was pretty accurate from what has been said of him during the books. His true strength was his mind, but that doesn't mean he didn't have other assets.

He disliked using guns though. So thats one wrong detail in the movies. He fired far too often.

[SwitchBlade_Jax]

I thought that Sherlock Holmes was pretty damn good, I could only say that in suffered from a lack of time to extend the acts to let his deduction skill shine more. Chicken bones in some gears is a small plot hole compared to ones you can find in other movies, *cough* transformers 2 *cough*

Also I enjoy that they took the time to forward think and aim for cohension in a movie series instead of being closed off. Real life doesn't tend to book end well so no need for a movie to.

[SwitchBlade_Jax]

He disliked using guns though. So thats one wrong detail in the movies. He fired far too often.

I can only remember him shooting once, at the pig factory. Unless you count him shooting the wall in his room.

[Mr. P]

Finally saw the 1030P Avatar 3D showing yesterday at our LOCAL THEATER (http://www.cinetopiatheaters.com/aboutus/photos.htm#). I never buy tickets online ($1 fee):mad: but all shows up to the 8:45P were sold out. Glad I came to my senses and did it. Great flick!

[Anenome]

Finally saw the 1030P Avatar 3D showing yesterday at our LOCAL THEATER (http://www.cinetopiatheaters.com/aboutus/photos.htm#). I never buy tickets online ($1 fee):mad: but all shows up to the 8:45P were sold out. Glad I came to my senses and did it. Great flick!
It would cost you more than one dollar to drive down there and buy a ticket ahead of it being sold out. Not to mention your time spent.

[Rommel]

I think this mere 3 percent drop lends credence to the thought that the blizzard hurt Avatar's opening.

[revelation]

I took my girlfriend and father to see Avatar in 3D on VMAX (an IMAX-style rip-off). Absolutely loved it. The Bones episode when they camp out for it makes a little more sense now (despite being a blatant attempt by Fox at uh...synergy?).

Going to see Sherlock Holmes on New Years Day.

[LilAbner]

I'm holding out for the sequel: Evil Avatar. :D

[ÜberJumper]

Saw Avatar for a second time on the weekend (Saturday) but took the wife this time. She loved it. First time was in Imax, this was real3d.

Spotted a few more things the second time around that have me convinced the sequel(s) will have humans meeting whoever designed pandora.

It's better in Imax btw, but the real 3d stuff was passable.

My Romanian born female co-worker who's in her 50's and hates violence saw it on the 24th in Imax. She *loved* it. This movie's going to get huge word of mouth if someone like her likes it.

[Venkman]

Sherlock Holmes was shit. Fucking disgrace.

I bet you're the guy at parties who sits in the corner with his arms crossed, frowning at all the other people having fun.

[net7runner]

My Romanian born female co-worker who's in her 50's and hates violence saw it on the 24th in Imax. She *loved* it. This movie's going to get huge word of mouth if someone like her likes it.

If EA is correct and Avatar only dropped $2M in sales between weekends ($77M vs. $75M), then things are looking really good for Cameron's epic. Sounds like some serious word-of-mouth is getting out, although I doubt we'll see anything close to Titanic's sustained performance...

[ÜberJumper]

I'd be surprised if it did Titanic's numbers. There's way more merchandising opportunities for this though, so the IP could make WAY more money overall.

[Duskfire]

Apparently it just broke into the top 50 highest grossing movies, and its only been out for what... 20 days? With a bit of run could easily see it break into the top 10.

[MrE]

Went with the wife and kids to go see Sherlock Holmes. I was actually impressed, but not because Robert Downey can act, so much as Hollywood made a movie about Holmes that was entertaining. I mean, most of the Sherlock Holmes books were more about mental ability over action, but I found the mix of both in this film to be a great trade off to an otherwise boring detective series.

[Anenome]

I mean, most of the Sherlock Holmes books were more about mental ability over action, but I found the mix of both in this film to be a great trade off to an otherwise boring detective series.
- Shame on you, sir, shame on you :P

What you mean is it was familiar. There's nothing boring about Sherlock Holmes. You enjoyed the new twist on the concept. The original Sherlock Holmes in the time of the book's and short-stories' releases made him one of the most popular characters of all time in its day.

[bskeillor]

There's really no telling where Avatar is going to end up. We probably won't see a decline until after the Holidays and then one could speculate where it may eventually end up. Just judging the numbers and the fact that the 2nd Monday improved over the 1st Monday by $3million, I'm guessing the 1st and 2nd Highest grossing (non adjusted) movies worldwide will be held by Mr. Cameron.

[Butters66]

Avatar still sucks, and so does the crap it based on - The evil Disney loads Pocahontas and Furngully.

At least Avatar is going down in sales. I think Titanic actaully went up in the next two weeks based on word of mouth. Lets hope it drops fast this weekend. It needs to pull around $320 domestic to be considered a hit based on the price. It will make money, but hopefully not a lot.

[pwnophobia]

Avatar still sucks, and so does the crap it based on - The evil Disney loads Pocahontas and Furngully.

At least Avatar is going down in sales. I think Titanic actaully went up in the next two weeks based on word of mouth. Lets hope it drops fast this weekend. It needs to pull around $320 domestic to be considered a hit based on the price. It will make money, but hopefully not a lot.

it doesn't start making money until it passes like 450 million in sales because of the price tag, if I read correctly.

[Verruckt]

Which it has already surpassed by 200 million when figuring in worldwide numbers. The movie will likely make 400+ in North America. It'll start dropping after next weekend.

[sgtslappy]

http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2009/AVATR.php

If this is right..

[bskeillor]

Couple of points.

This movie is eerily similar to Titanic in the way the business never really fell off, and in some cases improved from the previous week. Monday and Tuesday grosses of this week prove that.

For all those people that want it to fail, move on to something else. This one is going north of $400 million in the U.S. alone and over a billion worldwide. Even if the business dropped off more than average, say 50%, it's still set to hit $400 million. If it only drops the usual average of 35%, it may approach $500 million.

I'm glad Cameron's back!

[Verruckt]

Couple of points.

This movie is eerily similar to Titanic in the way the business never really fell off, and in some cases improved from the previous week. Monday and Tuesday grosses of this week prove that.

For all those people that want it to fail, move on to something else. This one is going north of $400 million in the U.S. alone and over a billion worldwide. Even if the business dropped off more than average, say 50%, it's still set to hit $400 million. If it only drops the usual average of 35%, it may approach $500 million.

I'm glad Cameron's back!

It will definitely start dropping 50+% after this weekend. All movies do. Nice 2 weekend holiday boost and then generally a pretty sharp fall. It is performing admirably, though.

[bskeillor]

All movies do not. The huge opening blockbusters do and movies with terrible word of mouth. The usual drop is between 25 and 40%. I would bet anything the 3rd week and 4th week drop will be low 20's because a lot of people are "waiting for the crowds to thin" to go see it.

[Anenome]

You have to wonder whether it's the holidays that's kept it afloat, or the movie being 'good.' We know the movie's not 'good' in a superb way, therefore it's likely the holidays. As one studio exec said, "Starting monday (28th), every day is a saturday." I'll wager a rather fast drop off once the first rolls around. It does look like the movie will make back its costs and make a profit. This is good for people who like CG and like 3D :) So, because of that, if nothing else, I'm happy. I'm also happy to see a mainstream director using both, as it clears the way for other movies and studios to now delve deeply into both even more.

I remember when Terminator 2 came out, all the reflections off that shining silver body, that's when I knew CG had arrived, it was awesome. Cameron's taken it a step further and made it both popular and financially successful. The result is perhaps a watershed moment in film-making which may see the incorporation of Avatar's CGI techniques in more and more movies. Every step into CGI makes American film more and more free in the way Japanese anime has long-since freed the creative mind of the Japanese cinematographer. We're seeing more and more experimentation. Can't be long now until someone really takes off the shackles and challenges us with something off the wall ;)

[Com_Gaunt]

We know the movie's not 'good' in a superb way, therefore it's likely the holidays.

"We" being yourself and Evil "Sour fucking bastard" Avatar? The movie kicks ass in every single way and all y'all do is sit on your "We are cool because we don't like the popular movie" couch like a bunch of emo teenagers hating the popular girls they want to screw so badly. All your blah blah about the narrative and dick wagging about this and that, we really don't give a flying arse what you think and just padding your posts with endless trivia does not change that. I might as well ask my dog for investment advice, just as useful.

[bskeillor]

The truth is, we won't know until after the holidays how much this movie is going to make. Every single person that I've talked to, male, female, young, old, gamer, non gamer, Xbox fanboy, PS3 fanboy, Wii fanboy, say that this movie is the best thing they've ever seen. Many have seen it twice or talk about going again. The IMAX is sold out a day in advance, and the theater parking lot is full. The only for sure haters are, as expected, people in these forums and Armond White.

The truth is, this movie could sit and do a Titanic and sit at the weekend box office week after week pulling in $20 to $30 million. This is exactly what movie theaters are for. You go there to see something you're not going to see at home or on DVD or Blu-ray. It's an event movie, and by the box office and critical returns, a pretty damn good one at that. I won't be the slightest bit surprised if it does pass $600 million and Titanic in the domestic box office.

[Verruckt]

It's a combination of good word of mouth and the holidays. Too many people are calling a Titanic way too soon. It'll be the #1 movie of 2009 for sure, but a bit premature to say it's even gonna make it to 500 million, let alone highest grossing movie of all time. Next Monday and the weekend after this should tell us better where it is heading.

I think I'll see it tomorrow.

[Johan]

It's a visual treat and worth seeing on the big screen. I also think it will make it's money back and more. Ultimately, I think it will be a blip on the cinematic radar in terms of remembering it as anything more than disposable entertainment. A classic it ain't. I'm glad I saw it, but have no desire to see it again, or own it on DVD/BR, or buy the plush doll, or get the collectible figures, or buy a book spin-off, or the like.

[Verruckt]

But plush dolls are so cute.

[Anenome]

"We" being yourself and Evil "Sour fucking bastard" Avatar? The movie kicks ass in every single way and all y'all do is sit on your "We are cool because we don't like the popular movie" couch like a bunch of emo teenagers hating the popular girls they want to screw so badly. All your blah blah about the narrative and dick wagging about this and that, we really don't give a flying arse what you think and just padding your posts with endless trivia does not change that. I might as well ask my dog for investment advice, just as useful.

No, pretty much myself and everyone else except you apparently. To say that I and Evil alone have criticized the plot as particularly weak is to show your own ignorance. Go to any review site; you'll see reservations about the plot. I'm not sure why you're so emotionally invested in this issue, I'm not. I was one of the first people to see the movie and review it on this site, and I said it was worth seeing, but the plot was weak. What's more to say.

It just so happens that both myself and Evil are particularly sensitive to questions of plot because we both identify as authors--as content creators. And as content creators, we see things when it comes to plot that perhaps others do not see. We've been trained in plot, we know the tricks of the trade. More importantly, we know what hack writing looks like, lazy writing.

Just as a botanist sees things you do not see when both of you walk through the same garden, we see things. The botanist may notice that a particular patch of soil is too alkaline because that species of flower isn't producing buds, because that species of flower there prefers a more acidic soil. Or the botanist may notice that that species of elm there is rock elm, not lacebark elm, and has the first signs of a beetle infestation on its trunk--details that are invisible to the untrained eye. You don't see that if you're not a botanist.

Well, I think about, read about, learn about, and write my own plots all day long. In fact, I just had a break-through last night on the novel I'm currently writing--I have my ending.

So, you don't have to get upset. We're plot snobs, Evil and I, because it's what we study, produce, and appreciate. It's a good thing that Avatar was a movie then, and the visuals can overpower the weak plot. I'm not sure how stating a fact = hating in your book.

Or, are you going to come back here and defend the plot of Avatar as a strong plot? That I'd like to see. I assure you, sir, I'd rip you to shreds on that issue. I suggest you slink away quietly and nurse-yourself out your shivering-rage. It's just a movie :P

[Anenome]

It's a visual treat and worth seeing on the big screen. I also think it will make it's money back and more. Ultimately, I think it will be a blip on the cinematic radar in terms of remembering it as anything more than disposable entertainment. A classic it ain't. I'm glad I saw it, but have no desire to see it again, or own it on DVD/BR, or buy the plush doll, or get the collectible figures, or buy a book spin-off, or the like.
Exactly how I feel. But apparently, you're now a 'hater' in Com-gaunt's book :P Trust me, if I disliked the movie I could rip it to shreds. I liked the movie, I liked it a great deal, especially the parts that were new, satisfying and well done. By the end of the movie, I said, you -want- to be a Na'vi and you're in love with Neytiri. That any movie can evoke that depth of emotion is a triumph. That Cameron achieves that on the backs of business and the military, unfairly, for imagined crimes, is unfortunate. I do dislike the political bent of the film. And, as Johan says, this won't enter the canon of classics. The canon is filled by movies with a great plot, movies that endure because of it. The newness of CGI and 3D will fade, and all that will be left in time is the story--which is not strong enough to make it into a classic. Although the production value makes it a tour de force, perhaps it will earn a spot in people's libraries purely on production value alone, as it's going to be awhile before anyone spends half a billion dollars on a single movie again :)

[Com_Gaunt]

It just so happens that both myself and Evil are particularly sensitive to questions of plot because we both identify as authors--as content creators. And as content creators, we see things when it comes to plot that perhaps others do not see. We've been trained in plot, we know the tricks of the trade.

I am sure that all 3 copies of your novel that you sold to your mom must seem quite an achievement to you, but I insist you get your ass back to the drive in booth at McDonald, sparky.

[Anenome]

I am sure that all 3 copies of your novel that you sold to your mom must seem quite an achievement to you, but I insist you get your ass back to the drive in booth at McDonald, sparky.
Aw come on, I expected better. You can't win first place in America's Top Troll with come-backs like that :P

[Butters66]

It just so happens that both myself and Evil are particularly sensitive to questions of plot because we both identify as authors--as content creators. And as content creators, we see things when it comes to plot that perhaps others do not see. We've been trained in plot, we know the tricks of the trade. More importantly, we know what hack writing looks like, lazy writing.



I don't think you need to be an author to realize that a bunch of intergalactic marines could never be challenged by some loser blue cat people.

Avatar sucks.

[Anenome]

I don't think you need to be an author to realize that a bunch of intergalactic marines could never be challenged by some loser blue cat people.

Avatar sucks.
Nah, you don't, but it helps if you want to actually explain why in technical terms :P

Actually I had no problem with the military resolution in the end. Marines can certainly be challenged. You have two precedents that come to mind: the Spanish attacking the Incas and holding out against their entire civilization because they held an important hostage (though they still barely escaped), and Custer's Last Stand, where a technologically superior force was easily overwhelmed. The big plot hole is that the military should've simply blasted off of Pandora when they realized an army of Na'vi were headed their way instead of forcing a do or die conflict :P And if they wanted to survive, blowing up the sacred tree would be much less efficacious than taking it hostage and occupying the area around it.

Meh, I'm really tired of people attacking critical looks at the plot, I'm just gonna stop here ;P But seriously, don't come claiming Avatar is the 2nd coming of film, it's not. This too shall pass.

[Zeal]

watched avatar out here in texas while visiting my wifey's side of the family. saw it on the big imax 3d screen, supposedly biggest in the world.

boring as all fuck.

[Zeal]

felt like i was watching Fern Gully II: 3D Smurfs Battle for the Rainforest.

[Verruckt]

I bet you didn't even watch Fern Gully the first, DID YOU?! If you did you would not be using it to insult Avatar, since it's so good.

[Duskfire]

Nah, you don't, but it helps if you want to actually explain why in technical terms :P

Actually I had no problem with the military resolution in the end. Marines can certainly be challenged. You have two precedents that come to mind: the Spanish attacking the Incas and holding out against their entire civilization because they held an important hostage (though they still barely escaped), and Custer's Last Stand, where a technologically superior force was easily overwhelmed. The big plot hole is that the military should've simply blasted off of Pandora when they realized an army of Na'vi were headed their way instead of forcing a do or die conflict :P And if they wanted to survive, blowing up the sacred tree would be much less efficacious than taking it hostage and occupying the area around it.

Meh, I'm really tired of people attacking critical looks at the plot, I'm just gonna stop here ;P But seriously, don't come claiming Avatar is the 2nd coming of film, it's not. This too shall pass.

I think the movie has alot of defenders because it was attacked quite alot before it was even released. Alot of people criticised the film without even seeing it, and thats what gets on peoples nerves (not that I am implying you were one such person.)

[Anenome]

Well, I did attack it before I saw it, in a way. Actually, seeing the movie confirmed my suspicions of the weak plot and expectation of beautiful CGI.

Then again, I didn't think Titanic was particularly special either. I'm not anti-Cameron though; who doesn't love Terminator and Aliens :P

[bskeillor]

WOW! $25 million for New Years day. Highest NYD total for a movie ever, and in it's 15th day of release, no less.

With that number it will definately shatter the Spiderman record for a movie's 3rd weekend gross which was ~$45 million.

[Major Dan]

I finally saw it, after two attempts at seeing it in IMAX 3d being sold out, and I have to say, I thought it was great. Yea, the story ,seen it before, but I thought it was told well and the CGI almost immediately went to, not even noticing or thinking about it territory. Not bad for a moving that is what, 80% CGI. Once you get old enough there are few unique stories to hear/see, you have to get over that for sure. 3d was solid, not gimmicky at all. Even the sound wasn't over the top like some IMAX movies I have seen there. Overall I enjoyed it and am curious to see if they make some more.

[bskeillor]

The ending worldwide total has a good chance of ending up in the $1.4 billion range, making a really nice profit for Fox and almost definately green lighting a sequeal. A sequel could be done for far cheaper than what this one cost, because the technology is there and they know what they are doing now. They could film a sequel for half as much or at the most 2/3rds of what this one actually cost.

[Evil Avatar]

Which it has already surpassed by 200 million when figuring in worldwide numbers. The movie will likely make 400+ in North America. It'll start dropping after next weekend.

According to the New York Times article I read, the movie needs to make $800 Million worldwide to begin to make a profit. While the movie is doing well (as others have suggested, probably due to the lack of good movies this holiday season) it still has a way to go before it hits that $800 Million mark.

[Anenome]

If it makes $1.4b then the industry will embrace both CGI and 3D much faster, as that would make it a Titanic level success.

As for a sequel, I sincerely hope they do not try to make a sequel. The story is self-contained. A sequel might be as silly as the Lion King sequel was. Cameron is not one for sequels either, and I laud him for that. Takes balls to move on to a new story that excites you.

[Major Dan]

Sequel, though would be easy enough. The humans still want the "rock stuff" and they will come back as their desperation for it grows. Like you said though, the story was self contained very nicely. Maybe a generation or two down the line. Or perhaps the Navi build themselves a space fleet, that might be fun?

[Anenome]

Sequel, though would be easy enough. The humans still want the "rock stuff" and they will come back as their desperation for it grows. Like you said though, the story was self contained very nicely. Maybe a generation or two down the line. Or perhaps the Navi build themselves a space fleet, that might be fun?

Mmm, I won't knock you imagining it, but I'm quite sure it won't be done. Or if it is, not by Cameron.

I could be wrong of course. It's not hard to imagine a follow up plot. But it would be treading the same territory, war with humans. A more likely scenario could be Jake going back to Earth with Neytiri to publicize what the corporation's done. None of those ideas excite me much though :P

[Anenome]

Slashdot (http://science.slashdot.org/story/10/01/02/1330245/Thorium-the-Next-Nuclear-Fuel?art_pos=7) had a recent discussion on using Thorium as a nuclear fuel in new nuclear reactors, thought this was funny:

This is good news especially now that the unobtainium supplies have been cut off from Pandora.

We should have just nuked that planet from orbit, then swooped down and picked up the unobtainium from their hot, smurfy ashes.

But no, they had to send in some hot-shot Colonel who had to prove how tough he was by taking them on in hand-to-hand combat, and in the process showing all the greenies just how cute and cuddly the smurfs were. Idiot. Now we can't touch their planet at all because of the outcries from the eco-nuts.


These days, people only mine Thorium while they're working on getting their skill up to the Fel Iron and outlands level. One thing worth noting is that somewhere in the past few patches, they've made it so you can mine Fel Iron at 275, which is pretty nice. No more running around the Eastern Plaguelands looking for Rich Thorium Nodes for those last few points when you'd rather be in Hellfire Peninsula.

[bskeillor]

According to the New York Times article I read, the movie needs to make $800 Million worldwide to begin to make a profit. While the movie is doing well (as others have suggested, probably due to the lack of good movies this holiday season) it still has a way to go before it hits that $800 Million mark.

Actually it's already in the black by that article's standards. Worldwide grosses usually lag a day or two on these totals.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=avatar.htm

[Anenome]

Domestic: $309,011,000 39.4%
+ Foreign: $476,192,825 60.6%
= Worldwide: $785,203,825
- That actually is better than I expected it to do at this point in time. In years past I never heard much about the foreign box-office. But, when you think about it, this could be interpreted as an extremely anti-American movie in the eyes of most foreign watchers >_>

[bskeillor]

17 days into the run Avatar has broken several BO records and is on a very unique run. It is very much poised to beat Titanic as the number one grossing movie of all time, unadjusted for inflation of course, and at this time next week will be the 2nd highest of all time.

From Box Office Mojo

1 Titanic Par. $1,842.9
2 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King NL $1,119.1 $
3 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest BV $1,066.2
4 Avatar Fox $1,018.8
5 The Dark Knight WB $1,001.9 $

[Anenome]

Will be an amazing achievement if he pulls it off. This success marks the coming-of-age of digital filming and projection, and CGI and 3D.

[Verruckt]

It is very much poised to beat Titanic as the number one grossing movie of all time, unadjusted for inflation of course, and at this time next week will be the 2nd highest of all time.



Adjusted for inflation numbers are utterly useless, unless you only go back like 5 years. You can't compare two different time periods like that fairly, even to something that is only as far back as Titanic was. Different eras. So I'm willing to declare it the number one grossing movie of all time quite easily if it gets there. Better than Titanic being #1 I suppose...