“‘Avatar’s’ lucky seven”

Per THR:

James Cameron’s “Avatar” topped the domestic boxoffice for a seventh straight session, ringing up an estimated $30 million while pushing its cumulative boxoffice to within shouting distance of yet another record.

 — — 

Elsewhere this weekend, the Warner Bros.-distributed Mel Gibson starrer “Edge of Darkness” fetched $17.1 million in second place to open at the high end of pre-release expectations.

Disney’s romantic comedy “When in Rome,” starring Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel, debuted roughly as expected with $12.1 million in third place.

Fox’s family comedy “Tooth Fairy” dropped a modest 29% in its sophomore session to $10 million in fourth place and a $26.1 million cume, while Sony Screen Gems’ sci-fi actioner “Legion” fell 61% to $6.8 million in sixth place with a 10-day cume of $28.6 million.

CBS Films’ drama “Extraordinary Measures” slid from the top rankings on a 57% tumble in its second frame to $2.6 million and a $10.4 million cume.

And there’s this:

Outsize foreign grosses for “Avatar” previously pushed the sci-fi epic past the onetime-record of $1.84 billion in worldwide boxoffice registered by “Titanic.” Global boxoffice for “Avatar” is now at $2.04 billion and counting [emphasis added].”

Re Avatar: What nimrod said this?

However those figuring Avatar will do Titanic box office — $1.84B worldwide — are very likely off-base. The love story of Titanic created a phenomenon among women, especially teen and tween girls, who went to the movie multiple times, in many cases dozens of screenings. Avatar does have a love story, but girls aren’t the primary audience for the movie, boys are — and they (per conventional wisdom) care less about romance, more about action. So there is a second level of logic re Avatar: The moviegoer’s experience of new storytelling technologies will result in multiple return visits. Perhaps. But I just don’t see Avatar doing anything more than 60% of Titanic’s business — because Jack and Rose’s love story resonated with the audience’s emotions, thereby, stirring them to see the movie again and again. Not sure a new movie technology will result in that type of emotional response.

With a reported $300M budget, Avatar will have to do well above $500M in B.O. to be considered a success — but I’m thinking it will walk to that mark, probably hit $700M and maybe $1B.

That nimrod would be me, yet more proof why I should never be allowed to run a movie studio!

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