In North America, 'Avatar: The Way of Water' stayed atop the chart in its seventh weekend as its global total grew to $2.117 billion, while new specialty horror offering 'Infinity Pool' opened to $2.7 million.
The milestones keep coming for Avatar: The Way of
Water.
James Cameron’s blockbuster is now the fourth top-grossing
film of all time at the global box office after passing up the $2.071
billion grossed globally by Star Wars: The Force Awakens, not adjusted for
inflation. The Way of Water finished Friday with a worldwide cume of $2.074
billion, meaning that Cameron has directed three of the four top-grossing
films of all time. Disney, which inherited the Avatar franchise when taking
over 20th Century Fox, likewise dominates the upper reaches of the list.
The all-time roster is topped by Cameron’s original Avatar
($2.92 billion), followed by Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame ($2.79 billion) and
Cameron’s Titanic ($2.194 billion).
Box office analysts believe The Way of Water will ultimately
overtake Titanic even though a remastered 3D version of Titanic is being
rereleased next week in time for Valentine’s Day (Paramount is handling the
rerelease domestically, while Disney and 20th Century have international
duties). Through Sunday, The Way of Water‘s worldwide tally is $2.117
billion.
Since launching in theaters around the world in
mid-December, Avatar 2 has bested all expectations after what some deemed a
mediocre opening.
The movie, for example, easily stayed No. 1 in North America
this weekend with a domestic tally of $15.7 million from 3,600 theaters for
a domestic total of $621 million. Overseas, it earned another sensational
$42.4 million to boast a foreign haul of $1.496 billion, the fourth best
showing of all time. Domestically, it ranks No. 11.
A crop of
sturdy holdovers also stayed high up on the chart, including Puss in Boots:
The Last Wish, A Man Called Otto and M3GAN. Indian film Pathaan also cracked
the top five with $6.3 million to $6.9 million.
Brandon Cronenberg’s hard-R horror film Infinity Pool opened to
No. 8 with $2.7 million in 1,830 theaters. The Neon film made its world
premiere at the Sundance Film Festival last week, although the audience was
treated to a cut rated NC-17. The version playing in theaters in North
America was retooled in certain parts in order to receive an R rating.
Left
Behind: Rise of the Antichrist, a special event screening playing in 1,835
theaters, should follow in ninth place with $2.2 million-$2.4 million for
Fathom. Billie Eilish: Live at the O2, likewise a special event, is expected
to pony up $1.2 million to $1.3 million from only 600 runs (the concert pic
played on Friday only).
At the specialty box office, Sarah Polley’s Women Talking
upped its theater count to 707 locations after scoring several top Oscar
nominations, including best picture. The acclaimed film, from MGM, grossed
$1 million for a domestic total of $4.5 million.
The other films
landing in the best picture category, including Avatar, have already been
playing extensively in theaters, with many already available in the home.
Nevertheless, some are expanding their location count in hopes of seeing a
bump from a best picture or other top noms.
One such film is To Leslie, an indie film starring Andrea
Riseborough that did almost no business last October when released in 28 or
so theaters. But after a celebrity-fueled grassroots campaign led to
Riseborough earning a surprise Oscar nomination for best actress, the movie
is going back into six cinemas this weekend. According to unofficial
estimates, few are going to see To Leslie. Those with access to numbers say
the film earned $250,000 or less from six theaters.
