The four-day domestic take for the sci-fi flick brought its domestic total to US$440.5 million, on top of US$957 million earned overseas; only a half-dozen films have passed the US$1 billion mark in their first two weeks.
But director James Cameron has estimated that the high-budget 20th Century movie needs to make twice that much just to break even. The original “Avatar” took in a record US$2.9 billion.
Second place in North American theatres went to Universal’s family-oriented “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” a computer-animated spin-off of the popular “Shrek” franchise. It took in US$22 million for the Friday-through-Monday period.
Another blockbuster sequel, Disney’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” earned US$6.5 million to place third; its domestic total rose to US$439.6 million in its eighth week out.
In fourth place was Sony biopic “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” at US$5.4 million. English actress Naomi Ackie portrays the late superstar.
And in fifth was Paramount’s comedy-drama “Babylon,” at US$3.6 million. Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie star in director Damien Chazelle’s over-the-top tribute to an early Hollywood struggling with the transition from silent films to “talkies.”
Rounding out the top 10 were:
- “Violent Night” (US$2.8 million)
- “The Whale” (US$1.8 million)
- “The Fabelmans” (US$1.6 million)
- “The Menu” (US$1.4 million)
- “Strange World” (US$747,000)