Avatar has broken many records at the box office. In fact, with $1.86 billion in box office receipts, James Cameron broke his own record previously set by “Titanic” to become the highest grossing movie of all time for the worldwide box office.
Yes, it sounds like a huge accomplishment and it is. But does that make Avatar the top box office success of all time? Well, no, not so fast. There are many variables to take into consideration and there are also many spectacular and huge box office hit movies from the past.
Right now movie ticket prices are at the highest level ever, with the average ticket price in 2008 at $7.18. That by itself is up 56% from the ticket prices in 1997 when “Titanic” was released. Not only that but “Avatar” is showing in 3-D, which usually commands an average of $3 extra per ticket.
Putting that into perspective, when the number 1 highest grossing film of all times was in theaters it cost just 23 cents to see a movie (yes, 23 cents, 2 cents less than a quarter of one dollar!). That film was also only originally released in 156 theaters in the United States, while “Avatar” premiered everywhere on 3452 screens. Of course, the highest grossing film was so popular that it was re-released in 1947, 1954 and 1961 and in 1967 it was re-released with an upgrade to 70mm.
“Avatar”, of course, has done exceptionally well but when it comes to top box office receipts there are many movies ahead of it. “Avatar” ranks at number 26. The film, “Forrest Gump” from 1994 ranks at number 22, “Star Wars: Episode 1-The Phantom Menace” from 1999 comes in at number 19. “E.T., The Extra-Terrestrial” is number 4, “The Sound of Music” number 3, “Star Wars” number 2, and the number 1 highest grossing film of all time, adjusting for inflation is…..(drum roll, please!) Well, it’s not really a surprise, if you think about it!
Of course, it is “Gone With The Wind” Starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, first released in 1939.
Oh, one more thing I almost forgot, “Titanic” still beats “Avatar” as it comes in at number 6.
See the entire list here.
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