$232 million dollar opening weekend for ‘Avatar’
Posted by Rodneyon 20. 12. 2009in News Chat
So, I saw Avatar on Friday. I was thoroughly impressed by all the visuals, they lived up to the hype and then some. Was it a great movie? It depends on what you were looking for. I knew exactly what I was going to see, and I was not let down at all. If you were looking for a new type of story (As John pointed out, Dancing with Wolves) I actually saw the same story in Battle For Terra, but oh well.
With a guesstimated $400 million – $500 million dollar price tag, it looks like it is well on its way to recouping those funds.
MSNBC Entertainment News Writes:
James Cameron launched his science-fiction epic “Avatar” into a safe orbit as the costly film soared to No. 1 with $73 million domestically and $159.2 million overseas, for a $232.2 million worldwide total.
With that big a start, distributor 20th Century Fox was quick to proclaim it made a good investment with the estimated $400 million spent to make and market the film, which is Cameron’s first narrative feature since 1997′s “Titanic,” the king of modern blockbusters.
“Absolutely. No question,” said Chris Aronson, head of distribution for the studio, which reported stellar reaction in exit polls from audiences after seeing “Avatar.” “The word of mouth is something that I don’t know I’ve ever seen in this business before.”
I was talked into seeing “Avatar” today(was gonna wait til Blu-Ray), and just fucking loved it. Planning to see it again.
The title is a bit misleading. The film had a $73 million opening weekend with a $235 million World Wide opening.
The world wide numbers aren’t as impressive as they appear, because unlike the vast majority of films, “Avatar” opened internationally on the same date. Most films don’t do that.
So the one true measure of how well the film did, is domestic numbers… because that’s the same playing field as all other films with a wide release.
True, but the 400-500 million price tag of the film also includes the technology that Cameron created so that’ll be absorbed in the other films that use the tech in the future.
So all in all, the numbers are going to be messed up. Just the 73 million NA numbers mean it’s not a catastrophic failure.
>The title is a bit misleading
You’ve more than half already left the site and you still can’t let go of your anal sense of superiority. Brock explains in his post that the number includes international. And since one of his major points for this post was that it seems to be making back it’s money, there is no problem.
John,
The only films to have a bigger worldwide opening weekend are films that already were established franchises(LOTR, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Harry Potter, and of course twilight.) Theses stats go for Domestic BO too. For a film like Avatar with no built in audience to pull in 73mil domestic is mildly impressive, don’t ya think?
“the worldwide numbers aren’t as impressive as they appear, because unlike the vast majority of films, “Avatar” opened internationally on the same date.”
Um, except for China and Japan…
And I’d have to say the blizzard in the NE probably cost the movie $10-20 million domestically, though much of that will probably be made up over the next two weeks as people catch the movie later.
I saw it in 3D today, just wow. Best visuals I’ve ever seen. Definitely one of my favs and possibly the best of the year.
I walked away “Color me impressed”. My 9 year old son kept saying “Dad, wasn’t that a great movie?” For a 9 year old, it literally had it all.. Guns, killing, cool monsters, visual effects, 3-D you name it.
That’s true
and blue nudity!
I kept thinking I was seeing Zoe Saldana’s nipples the whole film. Even as a Navi, she’s still hot. Damn…
I personally thought the film was the best of the year, and not only that. It’s one of the greatest achievements in film since LOTR. There, I said it again.
“For a 9 year old, it literally had it all.. Guns, killing…”
Ugh
No offense, but that bothers me on a few levels.
Oh come on Jim, every nine year old boy loves guns and fighting.
the wheelchair has got to be more advance than in the movie..
Man how sad are we? I thought the SAME THING
lol and I was thinking how they perfected the technology of how when you come out of cryo you are as clean shaven as when you left.
I’m sure someone’s touched on this previously, but word is Cameron waited almost 10 years before making this movie because technology wasn’t where he wanted it to be, to make this as impressive as he envisioned it. On top of working to develop a new type of camera system (with some techno help from a DP I believe), so far I’ve heard nothing but great news for this movie. I’ll probably make my way to see it in a couple weeks, after waiting for the kids to go back to school!
yep, just love the bad guy, how about the scene where he just yells “Masks on” kicks open the door and kills one of the more annoying peoople in the movie.
At first I thought this was it’s gross domestically, and I nearly shit myself.
The thing that most impressed me about the numbers is how little it dropped over the days. Though I think we’ve still got to wait till 2nd weekend to know truly how goo this will do.
This is the best movie I have ever seen. it is really amazing film. I guess many people would like to visit Pandora or maybe stay there…
depends on what you were looking for?
well i was looking for more then empty spectacle with terrible acting, a lousy script and the hundredth version of white man infiltrating an indigenous tribe and quickly rising to the point where he pretty much leads them so i hated it.
The real test is how well it does in the next week or so. It’s not a surprise it had 73 million domestically. The end of the month will show the real story.
I agree, numbers may be low right now because…
1)People may be waiting for Christmas to see it when families come into town.
2)Its not a franchise and there were big names like Depp to real in viewers right away.
I think word of mouth will certainly help this movie out quite a bit.
Don’t forget, there are crazy snowstorms going on the eastern seaboard. So it likely hurting the movie income as now.
yeah good point. we had some bad weather in the mid west too. me and my friends who live in Central Illinois decided to brave the icy roads to see it in IMAX in Indianapolis, IN. the way there was fine but we knew the rain would ice over by the time we had to head back.
I got jacked on the 3D. I sat on the outer edge of a row. What a noob maneuver but I was late and that was the only place left. So visually I was all jacked up. I need to see it again on a decent screen. I wish I could just get it on bluray already.
My best friend and I saw Avatar over the weekend, and like everyone else I too was blown away by the experience. One of the things we discussed post viewing was the potential of a sequel. My argument is that they’re going to have a hard time topping some of the set-pieces that were in this film (the climax that involved Hometree was by far one of the most amazing things I have ever seen in cinema). However, if the film continues to do well, I find it hard to believe that Fox will not try to offer up another blank check for Cameron to make another one. I just hope that if he does decide to make a sequel, it’s because of his love of the world that he has created, and not simply for a huge payday.
in some interview i saw him in he said he was wants to make another one, and if this movie does well its a sure thing.
Saw it last night in 3D on the biggest screen in Sweden. I was totally blown away by it.
If you don’t see this film in cinemas, you will have missed a pivotal point in motion picture history.
I doubt if Avatar will make a profit box office wise with its reported price tag of 500 million (production and marketing costs), as wikipedia and some other sites proclaimed. Maybe the payday will come in from its DVD and Blu-ray sales. What do u think John?
Personally, I liked the characterization in the movie and skillful camera usage with 3-D technology. All in all, a super-duper hit.
And also, the best thing about it is it stays with you. It’s 14 hours after I’ve seen it, and I still feel like I’m on Pandora.
I will agree with Aaron, I found myself thinking about it throughout the next day and still feeling a sense of … awe?
It is an experience of a movie, and a movie that MUST be seen in a theater to appreciate the effect.
Exactly, that’s the best thing here is that it was an experience. I actually forgot I was sitting in a theater lol
I also agree that this is one of the best moviews I have ever seen. Absolutely amazing. The last interview with Cameron that I read, he said he was planing on 2 sequels. I hope it does well enough for that in theaters. I have a feeling that this movie will see profitability in it’s theatrical run.
Speaking of a sequel, I would love to return to Pandora, but I don’t want a sequel, it stands on it’s own.
I also felt like this movie, more than any other, has stayed with me over the past few days. It was an amazing visual experience! The 3D glasses did not seem to hinder the movie at all and the time just seemed to fly by. One thing that has not been mentioned is all of the sweet flying sequences. You really feel like you have taken flight with them. Wow…. Can’t wait to see it again.
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Avatar Movie Rocks…… amazing and mesmerizing.
I saw it on 3D but i gonna see it IMAX 3D again.
Avatar Movie Rocks…… amazing and mesmerizing.
I saw it on 3D but i gonna see it IMAX 3D again.
This is probably a smal detail but Variety is reporting.
Performing far better than expected on Sunday, 20th Century Fox and James Cameron’s “Avatar” finished the weekend with an opening gross of $77.3 million–instead of $73 million–to secure the best December debut ever at the domestic B.O
The fact that there is a snowstorm that may or may not hurt the sales of the movie..
Reminds me of entourage, when JC’s Aquaman opens on the hottest day of the summer and they think it will hurt the sales, and it beats spiderman he he.
Yes the snowstorm may hurt the sales of the movie.
It’s a very good effort by james cameron.
AWESOME..
Ambience at Pandora was too good.
The plants and animals. Awesome creativity.
Best since The Matrix
Firstly I appreciate the creativity.I was goosbammed with th whole part of the movie.No one should miss it.TNKS FOR THE X-MASS GIFT.
saw this movie on sunday almost a week ago and to be honest it is one of the best movies ever visual story cast and na’vi theyre just wow and for the people who said is a bad movie let me tell you this u saw it and u so damn want to be a na’vi and feel so bad bout urself u cant admit it waws sooooo damn good like anything u seen before
I noticed one person mentioned about white man coming in and blah blah blah. Apparently they didn’t notice the multiple races that were running around attacking the Na’vi… but I suppose people wish to find any reason to complain about a movie. Either way this was a VERY Good movie and… I’ve recently read that this movie broke 1 billion worldwide in the box offices!
i really love that movie, i litteraly forgot where i was cause i was so into it. hope there’s more
When you see Avatar, it will pop your head off. I think it is the best movie in the world. Everyone should see it. Adios amigos.
I love the movie it is the best one i ever watch and i cant believe it. i thought it would be a lame one but i guess i was wrong it was funny and it had everything that i like wow i watch it over and over for like 4 times and omg whatever