Blue Bests Batman

Avatar continues its winning ways for the 6th weekend n a row...



Andrew Stewart of Variety:

Topping the frame with an estimated weekend gross of $36 million for a cume of $552.8 million, 20th Century Fox and James Cameron's "Avatar" well surpassed Warner Bros.' "The Dark Knight" with $533.3 million to become the second highest grossing film ever at the domestic box office.

Still behind "Titanic" in U.S. totals, "Avatar" made history overseas.

Pic earned $107 million from 11,803 screens in 111 markets at the foreign B.O., just enough to sink the ship, making "Avatar" the all-time champ in international receipts with $1.28 billion. Cameron's "Titanic" previously held the record with $1.24 billion.

"Having been a part of the 'Titanic' phenomenon, we never thought this day would come in our careers," said Fox Intl. co-prexys Paul Hanneman and Tomas Jegeus. "But James Cameron created in 'Avatar' a film with such humanity and magic that it resonates with people of every culture."

Domestically, "Avatar" slipped a mere 16% in its sixth frame, earning $9.1 million on Friday, $16.5 million on Saturday, down just 5% from the same day last weekend, and an estimated $10.4 million on Sunday.

Along with "Avatar," Fox claimed three of the frame's top 10 slots with "Tooth Fairy" opening to $14.5 million at 3,344 locations and "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" bringing in $6.5 million at 2,973 in its fifth frame.

Sony's post-apocalyptic offering "Legion" performed well in its opening frame with $18.2 million at 2,476 locations, while CBS Film's inaugural pic "Extraordinary Measures" opened to a disappointing $7 million at 2,549.

EW has the Weekend's top 10 chart and more analysis...

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