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‘Titanic’ director once again claims box office gold
Sunday February 07 2010
James Cameron has outdone himself. For the seventh weekend in a row, the famous director and screenwriter’s latest hit movie, “Avatar,” has taken the number-one spot at the box office. Released Dec. 18, 2009, the 162-minute sci-fi epic is the highest-grossing film of all time. As of last week, the movie had brought in $1.859 billion worldwide, exceeding the $1.843 billion record set by Cameron’s 1997 film “Titanic,” according to MSNBC news. Domestically, “Avatar”’s total of $554.9 million has not surpassed “Titanic”’s total of $600.8 million. However, international ticket sales indicate “Avatar” is in the forefront, having grossed a stunning $1.3 billion compared to “Titanic”’s $1.24 billion record.
Does this mean that more people have purchased tickets to see “Avatar” than any other movie in theaters (notably “Titanic”)? No. Those who have studied statistics know that lurking variables exist in every supposed mathematical marvel.
On a basic level, it costs more to see a movie in theaters today than it did in December 1997, when “Titanic” was released. At that time, it cost an average of $4.69 for one movie ticket, while today, due to inflation, each ticket costs an average of $7.46, according to a recent New York Times article.
Furthermore, “Titanic” was only shown in regular theaters, whereas “Avatar” is playing in regular theaters, in 3-D and in IMAX productions. Tickets for the latter two cost notably more than tickets for the first. Twentieth Century Fox has reported that 3-D showings have accounted for 72 percent of worldwide ticket sales for “Avatar.” According to President and Chairman of IMAX Filmed Entertainment, Greg Foster, $137.1 million in “Avatar” ticket sales came from “large-format IMAX theaters.”
Therefore, the fact that “Avatar” has grossed more money than “Titanic” does not mean that more people have seen “Avatar” in theaters than “Titanic.” In fact, the Hollywood Reporter claims that when it comes to box office statistics based only on quantities of ticket sales, the number one movie of all time is “Gone With the Wind” with 202, 044,600 sales (followed by “Star Wars,” “The Sound of Music” and “E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial,” respectively). “Titanic” sails in at number six, with 128, 345, 900, while “Avatar” lands at 26 with 76,421,000 tickets sold.
However, there are many sides to every story. I must admit I am a die-hard “Titanic” fan and held a grudge against “Avatar” before even having seen it. It was quite an impressive movie, and perhaps it is not fair to compare its numbers to those of “Titanic” — yet. “Avatar” has only been out in theaters for seven weeks, while “Titanic” cruised on in theaters from December 1997 until September 1998, a full nine months. The fact that “Avatar” has brought in so much money in so little time is indeed astounding.
Paul Dergarabedian, president of www.Hollywood.com’s box-office division, points out in the New York Times that “in just 39 days it has eclipsed the worldwide record.” Dergarabedian says that the film will almost certainly surpass $2 billion before the end of its run, and some Fox insiders believe it might even earn as much as $2.5 billion.
Regardless of “Avatar’s” future, a seven-weekend reign at the top is nothing to scoff at. With the 82nd Academy Award ceremony coming up March 7, there is a good chance “Avatar” will win at least one Oscar, provoking more potential fans to spring for the pricey tickets. “Avatar” has already won Golden Globe awards for best director and best motion picture drama. Referencing the famous “Titanic” line, Dergarabedian sums up “Avatar”’s success so far by affirming that “James Cameron is the box-office ‘king of the world.’”
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