I LOVED Avatar and will see it again next weekend.

You are so right when you said that AVATAR need to do well, because this is an original film, with a fresh story concept, which can send a message to Hollywood-- that original stories CAN do well at the box office.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

I think your predictions are correct. I also think it's hard to know, really, since this movie already has a lot of good word of mouth. Despite crazy marketing on almost every channel and every tv show and commercial, I think this movie will do better off of the reviews and thoughts of people on the internet. And so far, those thoughts are increasingly positive.

I absolutely loved it in 3D, now it's time to watch it in 2D.

I saw "Avatar" yesterday in 3-D. LOVED it.

Why report on a weekend's box office when it isn't even complete yet? Last I checked SUNDAY was part of the weekend too.

Not sure where "Avatar" will end-up $$ wise, BUT it is quite a movie indeed. Best of 2009, in my humble opinion.

- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA

Great and interesting post Scott!

The snowstorm is unfortunate and I don't think should be underestimated by how much it hurt the takings. I would have liked to have seen Avatar break records, if it deserves to that is. It's something that's original, bold and attempting to push things forward. I wish it all the best!

I assume that Avatar will cruise to $600m. On a smaller note, it's in 3D, so there's the chance of two different cinema viewings from one audience member, not to mention if you have to pay extra for the glasses. I would do it twice for the action alone, at least there's that to fall back on if all else fails!

It's not everyday something like Avatar comes out. So we've got to be thankful it's stiring up a debate, doing well, and getting people out to the cinema and making it the forefront of entertainment topic. We should cherish this moment!

I would consider $232m a success and especially as there's sunday's total to take into account.

It's going to be interesting. My fingers too, are crossed.

Cheers Scott.

Whoa.

It's a shame that lame movies like New Moon have a larger opening than Avatar.

I'm seeing it today!!

i saw "avatar" today... i am home in D.C. for winter break, and my friends and i braved the snow and went out and saw it... the theater was pretty full. "avatar" will make money, no doubt.

yes, the 3d stuff was revelatory... i found it to be amazingly immersive and visually engaging.

BUT. BUT. BUT.

i found the story itself to be pretty by-the-numbers. the foreshadowing was pretty obvious. the "message" was about as subtle as a ICBM. the dialog was an abomination; exposition dumps and "vortex flux" terminology everywhere... bah.

mainly, i kept thinking how much i missed the visceral, intense, frightening james cameron.

i remember when i was like 7 or 8, seeing the Terminator movies back to back. i remember the T-800, in some dingy motel room, carving out its own eye with a razor blade, and that beady little red light that was left as a result of the operation.... skulls being crushed under a mechanical foot... sarah connor being vaporized in a nuclear explosion...

avatar lacked any of that kind of visceral energy. at least, for me.

can't wait to see what cameron does next... i'll be there, no doubt about it!

I'm looking forward to seeing it tomorrow. Probably not 3-D. Never really was a fan of the tech.

I'm hoping it not only makes more money than Terminator 2, but that its success is so devastating to Michael Bay's ego he goes mad, becomes a dirty, smelly recluse and never makes films again.

So disappointing! Sure, the effects were amazing, the design exquisite, but the story was practically non-existent (when it wasn't being utterly predictable). And aside from Sigourney Weaver's, there was little going on with characters, blue or not.

I also thought the human tech designs to be either old hat (circa late 80s movies) or ridiculous. For example, a mech suit -- and one that uses mechanized arms to wield oversized weaponry, instead of having them built into. Huh? (I was reminded of Crocodile Dundee's, "Now THAT'S a knife!" joke.

And no, I didn't watch it in 3-D. I think the spectacle merely masks this film's shortcomings, judging by the unqualified praise it's been getting.

Again, Sam Worthington is a big nothing, acting-wise. Upon leaving the theater, my wife summed it up perfectly, "I just didn't care about [Jake Sully]." Me neither.

His character simply does not change -- he goes from being a human warrior to a N'avi warrior. There's no inner conflict, no real transformation. It would have made a better arc if the main character was a human scientist who becomes a N'avi warrior. Or somesuch.

Sorry, but District 9 kicks Avatar's ass on so many levels, especially story and character development.

Of course Avatar is making a pile of cash, but let's not delude ourselves into thinking it's because it's a great film. Look at last summer's steaming pile of Transformer shit for example. Damn movie was a license to print money, for some inexplicable reason.

Don't get me wrong, Avatar is several notches above Transformers 2, but a new Star Wars it ain't. It ain't even a new Aliens

Worldwide Box Office Update: $623,575,721,

That's just under two weeks of release (10 days) which is great to see. It's now no.46 in the global box office of all time ranking. (Scott, you could be right with the $1bn forecast!)

It's currently the second highest grossing 3D film, and trailing by $60m or so to Pixar's Up.

I enjoyed the film, and while there may be a flaw or two from different perspectives, it does hit the mark for its target audience (a bit below me in age) and is doing its job. And all that with no main star to sell it.

Fair game.