Avatar is said to be the most expensive film ever to make and there is no denying that James Cameron has managed to create something spectacular and revolutionary. But has it succeeded in the market place?
The film was a huge success, taking $27m on its opening day, the second largest ever december opening, behind I am Legend. It took an estimated $232m on its opening weekend, the most successful non franchise, non sequel, and original film ever. It has now grossed over $1.1bn, making it the second highest grossing film ever, behind Titanic (1997, also by James Cameron), which grossed over $1.8bn. It is rumoured to be nominated for up to nine oscars including best picture and best director.
The audience on the whole have loved the film with people who never visit the cinema making the trip to go and see it! Lots have people have seen it multiple times, and I think that it is the spectacle that get people going to see what all the fuss is about. Filmed with revolutionary motion capture technology, Cameron has pushed the boundaries of what is possible and people want to be part of this new age of 3D. Cameron says 'we've only just touched on the surface on what is possible here', and with the success of Avatar we should expect a lot more movies to be pushing the boundaries of technology and 3D to become much more widely used.
I think that Avatar definately lived up to all the hype, with James Cameron showcasing a visualy stunning creation which will certainly revolutionise the way we watch films. We are still unsure whether there will be a sequel to Avatar, but Cameron says he has a storyline for another two movies already.
Posted by Tom A and Hugh
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Has Avatar been a success?
Audience Reaction
Avatar has received a huge response worldwide mainly due to the fact that it is such a massive production from James Cameron, a brilliant and highly acclaimed director. It has smashed box office records and it is being described as a 'must-see' film. As well as just going to see the movie (in many cases multiple times) the population have been busy making their views heard through sites such as IMDB, Facebook, and many more.
(Click to view full image)
Posted by Tom A
Monday, 4 January 2010
BBC NEWS: Avatar smashes $1bn box office speed record
Avatar has become the fastest movie ever to achieve $1bn (£625.6m) in ticket sales around the world.
Distributors 20th Century Fox say it has earned more than $350m (£217m) in the US and more than $670m (£415m) in the rest of the world in only 17 days.
The 3D science fiction blockbuster was directed by James Cameron, who also made Titanic, the best selling movie of all time.
The latest figures make Avatar already the fourth-biggest film ever made.
Ahead of it are Titanic ($1.8bn; £1.1bn), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King ($1.12bn; £695m) and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest ($1.07bn; £664m).
Avatar - about a disabled marine who infiltrates a race of giant blue aliens - combines live action with digitally-enhanced performances.
It was reportedly the most expensive film ever made, with a budget of at least $300m (£186m).
Expensive tickets
"This is like a freight train out of control," said 20th Century Fox distribution executive Bert Livingston. "It just keeps on going.
"I think everybody has to see Avatar once, even people who don't normally go to the movies, they've heard about it and are saying, 'I have to see it'," he said.
"Then there are those people seeing it multiple times."
Avatar has now reached most parts of the globe. It opened in China on Saturday and is due to reach Italy - its final market - on 15 January.
The huge box office takings are partly down to the higher cost of tickets for 3D performances, says the BBC's Peter Bowes in Los Angeles.
But as Hollywood enters its traditional slow season, with few big films due for release, Avatar is likely to dominate the box office for several more weeks, he adds.
Posted by Tom A
