List of box office records set by Avatar
Introduction alt=A photograph of James Cameron''Avatar'' was released in December 2009 and went on to break multiple box office records in various markets. Worldwide, it became the highest-grossing movie of all time and the fastest movie to gross $1 billion through $2.5 billion, while also setting the records for the highest grosses in the 3D and IMAX formats, respectively. In its domestic market of the United States and Canada, it set the records for the highest-grossing film and second through seventh weekends, as well as the fastest to gross $500 million through $750 million. Elsewhere, it became the highest-grossing film of all time in over 30 markets including China, Hong Kong, Romania, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.Box office analysts identified several factors contributing to the film's box office success. Among these were the relative lack of competition owing to the release date, a marketing strategy that emphasized the novelty of the cinematic experience leading viewers to watch it in the theater rather than at home, positive word of mouth and repeat viewings increasing the film's staying power in cinemas, an ability to attract audiences across the globe, and premium ticket prices from 3D and IMAX showings. Many of the records set by the film are listed below. Data on the previous record and records that have since been surpassed are presented where available and applicable. All grosses are given in unadjusted US dollars, except where noted otherwise.
Worldwide The film set the worldwide record for the highest gross of all time, surpassing the previous record by more than 50%, and grossed $2 billion in less time than it had taken the previous fastest-grossing film to gross half as much. It also exceeded the previous record for highest gross in the IMAX format by a factor of more than three.+RecordFigurePrevious record holderSurpassed byNotesHighest-grossing film$2.789 billion''Titanic'' – $1.84 billion''Avengers: Endgame'' – $2.797 billionIt became the highest-grossing movie in history on January 25, 2010, after 41 days of release, and had become the second-highest-grossing movie worldwide 20 days after its initial release.$2.923 billion''Avengers: Endgame'' – $2.797 billionAfter relinquishing the record to ''Avengers: Endgame'' in July 2019, ''Avatar'' reclaimed it in March 2021 with a re-release in China.Highest-grossing non-sequel$2.910 billion''Titanic'' – $1.84 billionHighest-grossing science fiction film$2.910 billion''Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace'' – $924 millionHighest-grossing 2009 release$2.74 billionIt was the only 2009 release to gross more than $1 billion.Highest 3D gross$1.35 billionHighest IMAX gross$270 million''The Polar Express –'' $71 millionFastest movie to gross $1 billion19 days''Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'' – 63 days''Furious 7'' – 17 daysFastest movie to gross $1.5 billion days''Titanic'' (see note)''Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' –  days''Titanic'' reached $1 billion on March 1, 1998 after  days of release, and had reached approximately $1.7 billion by June 23, 1998, i.e. after  days of release.Fastest movie to gross $2 billion47 daysIt was the first movie to reach that gross. ''Avengers: Endgame'' – 11 daysFastest movie to gross $2.5 billion daysIt was the first movie to reach that gross. ''Avengers: Endgame'' –  days (see note)Outside of the US and Canada, the gross was $1,839.0 million as of February 28, 2010 and the weekend gross for February 26–28, 2010 was $30.6 million, giving a gross of $ million as of February 25, 2010.Adding to that the US and Canada gross of $692.9 million as of February 25, 2010 gives a worldwide gross of $ billion as of February 25, 2010. ''Endgame'' was released on April 24, 2019, and the gross as of May 13, 2019 was $1,774.7 million outside of the US and Canada and $728.4 million in the US and Canada for a worldwide gross of $ billion.Highest opening weekend gross for a non-franchise, non-sequel$242 million''2012'' – $230 millionFastest to $100 million in IMAX ticket sales daysIt was the first movie to reach this gross. ''Jurassic World'' – 18 daysFastest to $150 million in IMAX ticket sales47 daysIt was the first movie to reach this gross. ''Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' – 19 daysFastest to $200 million in IMAX ticket sales daysIt was the first movie to reach this gross. ''Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' – 35 daysWidest IMAX release261 theaters''Alice in Wonderland –'' 270 theatersOf these, 178 were in the US and Canada. For ''Alice in Wonderland'', 188 were in the US and Canada.Highest fourth-weekend IMAX gross$12.2 million''Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' – $19 million
United States and Canada In the domestic market, ''Avatar'' set the record for the highest-grossing film of all time as well as several weekend records. It also set speed records for grosses at and above $500 million, and had the widest IMAX and 3D releases of any film up to that time.+RecordFigurePrevious record holderSurpassed byNotesHighest-grossing film$760 million''Titanic'' – $600 million''Star Wars: The Force Awakens –'' $936 millionIt passed ''Titanic''s gross in 47 days.Highest-grossing non-sequel$785 million''Titanic'' – $600 millionHighest-grossing 2009 release$749 millionHighest gross during the 2010 calendar year$466 millionHighest IMAX gross$140 millionFastest to $500 million32 days''The Dark Knight'' – 45 days''The Avengers –'' 23 daysIt grossed $504 million in that time.Fastest to $550 million38 days''Titanic'' – 121 days''The Avengers –'' 31 daysIt grossed $551 million in that time.Fastest to $600 million47 days''Titanic'' – 255 days''Jurassic World –'' 36 daysIt grossed $601 million in that time.Fastest to $650 million58 daysIt was the first movie to reach that gross. ''Star Wars: The Force Awakens –'' 14 daysIt grossed $651 million in that time.Fastest to $700 million72 daysIt was the first movie to reach that gross. ''Star Wars: The Force Awakens –'' 16 daysIt grossed $702 million in that time.Fastest to $750 million253 daysIt was the first movie to reach that gross. ''Star Wars: The Force Awakens –'' 18 daysIt grossed $750 million in that time.Highest 2nd weekend gross$75.6 million''The Dark Knight'' – $75.1 million''The Avengers –'' $103 millionHighest 3rd weekend gross$68.4 million''Spider-Man'' – $45.0 million''Star Wars: The Force Awakens –'' $90.2 millionHighest 4th weekend gross$50.3 million''Titanic'' – $28.7 millionHighest 5th weekend gross$42.7 million''Titanic'' – $30.0 millionHighest 6th weekend gross$34.9 million''Titanic'' – $25.2 millionHighest 7th weekend gross$31.2 million''Titanic'' – $25.9 millionHighest 37th weekend gross$4.0 million''My Big Fat Greek Wedding'' – $2.7 millionHighest Christmas weekend gross$75.6 million''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' – $50.5 million''Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' – $149 millionIn 2009. ''The Return of the King'' was in 2003. ''The Force Awakens'' was in 2015.Highest Martin Luther King weekend 4-day gross$54.4 million''Cloverfield'' – $46.1 million''American Sniper'' – $107 millionIn 2010. ''Cloverfield'' was in 2008. ''American Sniper'' was in 2015.Highest Martin Luther King weekend 3-day gross$42.7 million''Cloverfield'' – $40.0 million''American Sniper'' – $89.2 millionHighest January weekend gross$68.4 million''Cloverfield'' – $40.0 million''American Sniper'' – $89.2 millionHighest opening weekend gross for an original movie$77 million''The Incredibles'' – $70 million''Inside Out'' – $91 millionHighest opening weekend IMAX gross$9.5 million''Star Trek'' – $8.5 million''Alice in Wonderland –'' $12.2 millionHighest opening weekend 3D gross$55 million''Up'' – $35.4 million''Alice in Wonderland –'' $81.3 millionHighest Christmas Eve gross$11.2 million''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' – $7.7 million''Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' – $27.1 millionIn 2009. ''The Two Towers'' was in 2002. ''The Force Awakens'' was in 2015.Highest New Year's Day gross$25.2 million''Meet the Fockers'' – $18.2 million''Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' – $34.3 millionIn 2010. ''Meet the Fockers'' was in 2005. ''The Force Awakens'' was in 2016.Highest January single-day gross$25.2 million$25.8 million''Meet the Fockers'' – $18.2 million''American Sniper'' – $30.3 millionOn January 1 and then January 2, 2010.For ''Meet the Fockers'', it was January 1, 2005.For ''American Sniper'', it was January 16, 2015.Highest second Tuesday gross$18.2 million''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' – $10.2 million''Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' – $29.5 millionOn December 29, 2009.For ''The Fellowship of the Ring'', it was January 1, 2002.For ''The Force Awakens'', it was December 29, 2015.Highest second Wednesday gross$18.4 million''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' – $12.3 million''Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' – $28.0 millionOn December 30, 2009.For ''The Two Towers'', it was December 25, 2002.For ''The Force Awakens'', it was December 30, 2015.Number one film of the highest-grossing single aggregated weekend$269 millionJuly 18–20, 2008 – $260 millionJune 12–14, 2015 – $273 millionThe figure represents the combined gross of all movies in theaters on the weekend of December 25–27, 2009. ''Avatar'' grossed . ''The Dark Knight'' grossed  of the previous record. ''Jurassic World'' grossed  of the record that surpassed ''Avatar''s.Number one film of the highest-grossing aggregated December$1.06 billionDecember 2007 – $993 millionDecember 2015 – 1.30 billionThe figure represents the combined gross of all movies in theaters in December 2009. ''Avatar'' grossed 26.6%. ''I Am Legend'' comprised 20.1% of December 2007's gross. ''Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' comprised 50.0% of December 2015's gross.Number one film of the highest-grossing aggregated January$1.05 billionJanuary 2009 – $1.01 billionThe figure represents the combined gross of all movies in theaters in January 2010. ''Avatar'' grossed 29.5%. ''Gran Torino'' comprised 10.2% of January 2009's gross.Widest 3D release2,038 theaters''Alice in Wonderland –'' 2,251 theatersWidest IMAX release178 theaters''Star Trek'' – 138 theaters''Alice in Wonderland –'' 188 theatersSmallest second weekend drop for a movie opening over $50 milliondown 1.8%''How the Grinch Stole Christmas'' – down 5.4%Highest-grossing film in any single December$283 million''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' – $249 million''Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' – $652 millionHighest-grossing film in any single January$312 million''Titanic'' – $188 million
Other territories ''Avatar'' became the highest-grossing movie of all time in more than 30 markets spanning all six continents (not counting Antarctica). Data on precise figures, previous record holders, and surpassed records is limited due to the absence of box office record trackers for these markets.+RecordTerritoryFigurePrevious record holderSurpassed byNotesHighest-grossing movieOutside of the US and Canada$2.12 billion''Titanic'' – $1.24 billionIt surpassed ''Titanic''s record on January 23, 2010, after  days of release.Highest-grossing non-sequel$2.12 billion''Titanic'' – $1.24 billionFastest to $1 billion28 days''Titanic'' (see note)''Avengers: Infinity War'' –  days (see note)''Titanic'' took four times as long. ''Infinity War'' was released on April 25, 2018 and had grossed $1.059 billion outside of the US and Canada market as of May 13, 2018.Highest single day IMAX gross$1.4 million$1.6 million''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2'' (see note)On Saturday, January 2 and then Saturday, January 9, 2010. ''Deathly Hallows 2'' grossed $8 million on its opening weekend July 15–17, 2011 for an average over $2.6 million per day.Highest December opening weekend gross$164 million''Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' – $281 millionHighest 4th week gross$150 millionHighest 5th week gross$128 millionHighest 6th week gross$108 millionHighest-grossing film of all timeAustralia$105 million''Titanic'' – $70.5 millionIt was the top-grossing movie of all time in 24 markets after 41 days of release.Bahrain$896 thousandBrazil$58.2 million''Elite Squad: The Enemy Within'' – $62.9 millionBulgaria$3.4 million''Avatar: The Way of Water''Chile$10.4 million''Ice Age: Continental Drift'' – $13.7 millionChina$204 million''2012'' – $67.5 million''Transformers: Age of Extinction'' – $320 millionColombia$13.6 million ''Ice Age: Continental Drift'' – $14.0 millionCzech Republic$12.4 million''Avatar: The Way of Water''Dominican Republic$1.3 millionEast and West Africa$844 thousandHong Kong$22.9 million''Titanic'' – $15.1 million''Avengers: Endgame'' – $29.3 millionHungary$7.3 million''Avatar: The Way of Water''Italy83.4 millionJamaica$476 thousandJordan$752 thousandLatvia$1.4 million''Avatar: The Way of Water''Mexico$44.2 million ''Ice Age: The Meltdown'' – $29.4 million''Toy Story 3'' – $59.3 millionNew Zealand$12.5 million''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring''''Avatar: The Way of Water''Portugal$9.2 million''Avatar: The Way of Water''Qatar$883 thousandRomania$5.5 million''Avatar: The Way of Water''Russia$117 millionThe Irony of Fate 2 – $50 millionSerbia$1.3 million''Montevideo, God Bless You!'' – $2.1 millionSingapore$8.1 million ''Transformers: Dark of the Moon'' – $9.1 millionSlovenia$1.8 million''Avatar: The Way of Water''South Korea$111 million ''Tidal Wave'' – $67.9 million''The Admiral: Roaring Currents'' – $131 millionSpain$109 millionTaiwan$13.6 million''Titanic''''Transformers: Dark of the Moon'' – $37.6 millionUkraine$8.6 millionUnited Arab Emirates$7.3 million''The Jungle Book'' – $9.1 millionUnited Kingdom$150 million''Skyfall'' – $161 millionHighest opening weekend grossBelgium$1.6 million''The Twilight Saga: Eclipse'' – $2.3 millionDominican RepublicItaly$15.2 million''Sole a catinelle'' – $25.0 millionRomania$521 thousand''Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides'' – $572 thousandHighest opening day grossHong KongHK$2.6 million''3D Sex & Zen'' – HK$2.7 millionHighest weekday opening grossChina$5 million''Pacific Rim'' – $9 millionOn Monday, January 4, 2010. ''Pacific Rim'' opened on Wednesday, July 31, 2013.Highest opening week gross$41.4 million''Transformers: Dark of the Moon'' – $56+ million''Dark of the Moon'' grossed $56 million on its opening weekend; figures for the entire opening week are not available.Highest single-day gross$8.3 million ''Pacific Rim'' – $9 millionOn Saturday, January 9, 2010.For ''Pacific Rim'', it was Wednesday, July 31, 2013 – its opening day.Highest IMAX opening weekend grossPolandJapan''Star Wars: The Force Awakens''
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