Avatar was the number one movie at the box office for the weekend, for what that is worth.
Estimates put it at 73 million Friday to Sunday, which would put it at the sixth biggest opening of the year.
To go along with its inexplicable high praise (look at all the 100%s) from critics, it looks like EW is also calling this sort of opening a win, proclaiming it “on a course to potentially become one of Hollywood’s top money-makers of all time”.
But, it is also on target to be one of Hollywood’s biggest money losers of all time. With a budget reported to be anywhere between $230 and $500 million dollars, even if this has a Titanic-like run, it could still be in the red. And does anyone really expect anything close to that?
By Sci-Guy-Jim
December 20th, 2009 - 12:47 pm
Avatar could have surprising “legs” at the box office… it opened during a terrible storm on the east coast, will have Christmas to contend with during weekend #2, and New Years Day for the third. I predict that it will have fairly steady business, but nothing spectacular.
I’m curious about word-of-mouth on this movie. I tell people that I didn’t think it was all that fantastic, but still encourage them to go see it for themselves. I’d love to see the numbers for repeat viewers.
December 20th, 2009 - 10:34 pm
Here’s the opening line on a USA Today article about Avatar.
“Don’t worry if you saw Avatarand couldn’t take it all in. Says filmmaker James Cameron: ‘I don’t think they’ll be able to explain what they just saw. And that’s great. Hopefully they’ll turn right around and see it again.’”
If Avatar was too confusing to you, then chances are you weren’t old enough to be in the theater. I recommend Thomas The Tank Engine or The Wiggles for upcoming viewing.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2009-12-21-insideavatar21_st_N.htm
January 3rd, 2010 - 6:19 pm
[...] guess I must be pretty much wrong about everything when it comes to Avatar. I was sure it would end up losing [...]