AfterDawn: News

'Avatar' to break worldwide sales record this week

After just five weeks in theaters, the epic blockbuster Avatar is set to pass Titanic this week as the highest selling movie of all-time (not adjusted for ticket price inflation.)

On Sunday, the film became the highest selling movie overseas, beating out Titanic's former record of $1.242 billion in sales. Individually, the movie is the highest grossing of all-time already in China, Spain, Russia, Hong Kong and Chile.



Avatar currently sits at $552.8 million domestic and $1.808 billion worldwide cumulative, on pace to break Titanic's 13-year-old records of $600.8 million and $1.843 billion, respectively.

The film is also the best selling IMAX film of all time, with $134 million in sales at an average of $15 per ticket.

Gone With the Wind, when adjusted for inflation remains the highest grossing film of all time, with an estimated $3 billion in sales.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 25 Jan 2010 1:06

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• 10 comments

• biglo30

  I don't understand what all the hype is about in this movie. It's not all that it's ok nothing really special about this movie and the 3D version was just a waste of money.

  25.1.2010 10:17 #1

• embo22000

  Originally posted by biglo30: I don't understand what all the hype is about in this movie. It's not all that it's ok nothing really special about this movie and the 3D version was just a waste of money.yeah i liked book of eli better. But it's all bout adverticement.

  25.1.2010 16:04 #2

• DVDBack23

  Advertising doesn't bring you $1.8 billion dollars in sales. Epic movie, great word of mouth will.

  26.1.2010 00:37 #3

• pirkster

  Originally posted by DVDBack23: Advertising doesn't bring you $1.8 billion dollars in sales. Epic movie, great word of mouth will.Not solely advertising, but it is the result of a mastery of many marketing techniques.
  
  There are a lot better movies throughout the years that didn't sell nearly as well as Avatar or Titanic. If it were solely "epic" movie and "word of mouth" then those two films wouldn't be at the top.
  
  This film was targeted for mass appeal from the beginning. Whether you'd like to admit it or not, that kind of marketing was built into the very conception of the film. Cameron is a master of it, and it's no coincidence that his name is attached to the highest grossing films of all time.

  26.1.2010 10:19 #4

• DVDBack23

  Quote:Originally posted by DVDBack23: Advertising doesn't bring you $1.8 billion dollars in sales. Epic movie, great word of mouth will.Not solely advertising, but it is the result of a mastery of many marketing techniques.
  
  There are a lot better movies throughout the years that didn't sell nearly as well as Avatar or Titanic. If it were solely "epic" movie and "word of mouth" then those two films wouldn't be at the top.
  
  This film was targeted for mass appeal from the beginning. Whether you'd like to admit it or not, that kind of marketing was built into the very conception of the film. Cameron is a master of it, and it's no coincidence that his name is attached to the highest grossing films of all time.Absolutely correct. James Cameron is a master, and buzz for Avatar has been building since the 90s when he first announced his intentions for it. After the movie launched however, the continued sales (on average 100 million per week) is from word of mouth, and the continued press on "records falling," etc.
  
  I do believe that Titanic and Avatar would still be near the top though, because frankly the movies appeal to all ages, races, etc etc.
  
  When was the last time you heard someone say they've never seen Titanic? haha

  26.1.2010 15:16 #5

• embo22000

  Quote:Quote:Originally posted by DVDBack23: Advertising doesn't bring you $1.8 billion dollars in sales. Epic movie, great word of mouth will.Not solely advertising, but it is the result of a mastery of many marketing techniques.
  
  There are a lot better movies throughout the years that didn't sell nearly as well as Avatar or Titanic. If it were solely "epic" movie and "word of mouth" then those two films wouldn't be at the top.
  
  This film was targeted for mass appeal from the beginning. Whether you'd like to admit it or not, that kind of marketing was built into the very conception of the film. Cameron is a master of it, and it's no coincidence that his name is attached to the highest grossing films of all time.Absolutely correct. James Cameron is a master, and buzz for Avatar has been building since the 90s when he first announced his intentions for it. After the movie launched however, the continued sales (on average 100 million per week) is from word of mouth, and the continued press on "records falling," etc.
  
  I do believe that Titanic and Avatar would still be near the top though, because frankly the movies appeal to all ages, races, etc etc.
  
  When was the last time you heard someone say they've never seen Titanic? haha

  26.1.2010 20:27 #6

• embo22000

  Quote:Quote:Quote:Originally posted by DVDBack23: Advertising doesn't bring you $1.8 billion dollars in sales. Epic movie, great word of mouth will.Not solely advertising, but it is the result of a mastery of many marketing techniques.
  
  There are a lot better movies throughout the years that didn't sell nearly as well as Avatar or Titanic. If it were solely "epic" movie and "word of mouth" then those two films wouldn't be at the top.
  
  This film was targeted for mass appeal from the beginning. Whether you'd like to admit it or not, that kind of marketing was built into the very conception of the film. Cameron is a master of it, and it's no coincidence that his name is attached to the highest grossing films of all time.Absolutely correct. James Cameron is a master, and buzz for Avatar has been building since the 90s when he first announced his intentions for it. After the movie launched however, the continued sales (on average 100 million per week) is from word of mouth, and the continued press on "records falling," etc.
  
  I do believe that Titanic and Avatar would still be near the top though, because frankly the movies appeal to all ages, races, etc etc.
  
  When was the last time you heard someone say they've never seen Titanic? haha Even i loved titanic. Avatar was amazing too but it was kinda long. I don't know if its me because i loved lord of the rings trilogy and those suckers were long.

  26.1.2010 20:29 #7

• cyprusrom

  Originally posted by embo22000: ... Avatar was amazing too but it was kinda long. I don't know if its me because i loved lord of the rings trilogy and those suckers were long.I am not sure how people find movies to be "too long". I never ever experienced this certain annoyance, a movie to be too long. It is either,good, and I will devour it for 4 hours straight or more if given, or just sucks and I switch it off within 30 minutes...
  

  
  Piss me off, and I Will ignore You!

  26.1.2010 21:05 #8

• borhan9

  Quote:Gone With the Wind, when adjusted for inflation remains the highest grossing film of all time, with an estimated $3 billion in salesAfter reading this article this is what i really liked to know and i have to say this is good to see that Gone with the Wind is still up there. Although i have never seen it :)

  27.1.2010 01:38 #9

• whedonfreak976 (unverified)

  Originally posted by pirkster: Originally posted by DVDBack23: Advertising doesn't bring you $1.8 billion dollars in sales. Epic movie, great word of mouth will. Not solely advertising, but it is the result of a mastery of many marketing techniques.
  
  There are a lot better movies throughout the years that didn't sell nearly as well as Avatar or Titanic. If it were solely "epic" movie and "word of mouth" then those two films wouldn't be at the top.
  
  This film was targeted for mass appeal from the beginning. Whether you'd like to admit it or not, that kind of marketing was built into the very conception of the film. Cameron is a master of it, and it's no coincidence that his name is attached to the highest grossing films of all time. Wrong, transformers, john carter, clash of the titans, a team, g i joe, all had good marketing, the mummy movies, all had good marketing, but it was the movie weather you like it or not. The fact is Cameron knows who to touch people, and create worlds we want to live in, and characters we want to live with, and make friends with.

  2.4.2012 04:24 #10