Avatar opens to HUGE numbers!

James Cameron's 'Avatar' opened to tremendous numbers, though it did not manage to smash many box office records. The landmark 3D film about blue-skinned Na'vi warriors scored $73 million in the US, apart from $159.2 million in tickets for a worldwide gross of $232.2 million.

Some analysts say that Saturday's enormous winter storm that pummeled the East Coast of the US may have been a cause for Avatar's lackluster ticket sales in the country. In India the film opened to absolutely packed houses, the 3D theaters sold 100 percent of their seats during the opening weekend. Even though Avatar opened in traditional 2D screens as well, people preferred to watch the movie in 3D. Overseas Avatar opened in 106 other countries.

Fox entertainment had a bitter pill to swallow as close to $500 million were spent to make Avatar. According to a report, the film ended up costing around $310 million to produce (although tax credits will shave about $30 million off that bill) and an estimated $150 million to market. James Cameron had the 'Titanic' name to promote his film and critics even rated Avatar highly. It would take a miracle for the film to actually make a huge profit, considering its production cost. However Fox and its financing partners are far from a financial calamity. Avatar opened behind 'I am Legend' ($77 million in 2007) and 'LOTR: Return of the King' ($86.5 million). Analysts claim that Avatar would end its run with a cume of about $1 billion, and positive word of mouth may stretch the number further.