Money Matters, Simplified.
Cameron’s 'Avatar' spell binds the audience
by Ishita Sood - December 21, 2009 - comments
Avatar, one of the most expensive films ever made, may sell $50 million to $60 million in tickets this week, predict box-office analysts
New York, December 21 -- James Cameron’s much anticipated movie, Avatar, is already off to a phenomenal start as it rakes an estimated $232 million worldwide.
Despite heavy snow storms in the East Coast, Avatar opened to a colossal start, spellbinding the audience with its charm.
It is now clear what Cameron did for 15 years, the break can certainly not be called futile.
Avatar charms the audiences
Avatar’s performance has been given an A by most moviegoers, according to market research firm CinemaScore.
It is said, with the holiday season and Christmas around the corner, the movie can gross the same on the second weekend as it did on its first.
Avatar has so far collected $159.2 million worldwide, most of it coming from northern Europe. The 3-D sci-fi can approximately gross half a billion dollars internationally.
This would also mean that Avatar could be the fifth movie to ever top the $1 billion mark in the worldwide box office.
What’s in Avatar?
One of the reasons this multi-starrer movie is raking in millions is due to its “3-D effects”. The highly advanced special effects given by Cameron and his team are mind-blowing.
The 3-D is also beneficial for the theatres as they can charge extra for the special effects.
However, it was not an altogether 3-D experience everywhere. According to Fox co-Chairman Jim Gianopulos, “It was not a 3-D phenomenon everywhere, but in the places where theaters were available, it overwhelmingly leaned that way."
But with the movie’s current momentum, Fox and its financing partners Dune Entertainment and Ingenious Film Partners could come to profitability more quickly than anticipated.
More women should come to watch Avatar
Avatar, one of the most expensive films ever made, may sell $50 million to $60 million in tickets this week, predict box-office analysts.
“You don't often get a massive event movie like this that combines spectacle and scale with great reviews and word of mouth,” said Gianopulos.
However, Gianopulos said he hopes more women come out to see Avatar as only 43 percent females had made it to the opening-weekend.
Tom Rothman who is the co-chairman with Gianopulos agreed with him and said, “We believe, especially given that women worldwide responded so strongly, that this is just the start.”
Other movies to top this week include Disney's animated film ‘The Princess and the Frog’ followed by the ‘The Blind Side’, ‘Did You Hear About the Morgans?’, ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’, ‘Invictus’, ‘A Christmas Carol’ and Clooney’s ‘Up in the Air’.