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'Avatar': Biggest Movie of All Time Worldwide
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Directors, Box Office
Back in December, the buzz around "Avatar" was strong -- and critical reviews and audience awareness made it stronger all the time, still, movie executives, industry analysts and MovieWatchers were all remained skeptical. Could the film really be a success? With a budget of nearly half a billion dollars, could it break even? The risks for high for everyone involved: Fox, director James Cameron and even 3D technology.
Six and a half weeks later, no one needed to worry. Not only has the film become a massive hit in the United States, it has absolutely exploded overseas. In the process, Cameron has done what was once considered a lofty -- if untenable goal: he's beat his own worldwide box office record, set by "Titanic" back in 1998. That's right, in under 50 days in release, "Avatar" has topped the $1.8 billion mark at the worldwide box office, now standing as the highest grossing film of all time (not adjusting for inflation).
Check out this clip from CBS' Early Show:
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The show makes a good point, it's not even the end of January (we still have one weekend to go). With 3D screens not expected to be full until "Alice in Wonderland" bows in March, "Avatar" could easily soar even higher.
A few weeks ago, we asked MovieWatchers how high you thought "Avatar" would end up going at the box office. A sizable portion (like me), expected the film to top "The Dark Knight," but figured "Titanic," both domestically and worldwide, was pretty safe.
Now, all "Avatar" has to do is take home the domestic prize -- something that should happen next weekend, if not sooner. Hey, anything can happen.
Congratulations, James Cameron! You are once again "king of the world!" What do you think of "Avatar's" insane success? Let us know!
Source: CBS News
