Avatar - Most Successful Film Ever Or Is It? (Rant Blog)

So I knew this was going to happen, I saw the movie, I didn't think it was that great but it did have some great 3D Effects. Now most people won't care about this but Avatar becoming the most successful film in terms of gross money earned ever is kind of bullshit, if the tickets didn't cost $13.00 - $17.00 per ticket it wouldn't be so successful, basically what I mean is in terms of Ticket Sales Avatar has only sold 76,421,000 total tickets which places it in the 26th position for most ticket sales, 
 
1 "Gone With the Wind" (1939) 202,044,600
2 "Star Wars" (1977) 178,119,600
3 "The Sound of Music" (1965) 142,415,400
4 "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" (1982) 141,854,300
5 "The Ten Commandments" (1956) 131,000,000
6 "Titanic" (1997) 128,345,900
7 "Jaws" (1975) 128,078,800
8 "Doctor Zhivago" (1965) 124,135,500
9 "The Exorcist" (1973) 110,568,700
10 "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937) 109,000,000
11 "101 Dalmatians" (1961) 99,917,300
12 "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980) 98,180,600
13 "Ben-Hur" (1959) 98,000,000
14 "Return of the Jedi" (1983) 94,059,400
15 "The Sting" (1973) 89,142,900
16 "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981) 88,141,900
17 "Jurassic Park" (1993) 86,205,800
18 "The Graduate" (1967) 85,571,400
19 "Star Wars: Episode I" (1999) 84,825,800
20 "Fantasia" (1941) 83,043,500     
 
So realistically when you think about it Avatar earning as much money as much as Titanic (which is 6th place for total sales) with around 40 thousand less tickets sold is bullshit, the movie wasn't good, it was decent, the only reason it's sold so much is because of the outrageous 3D Ticket prices and Word-Of-Mouth. 
 
PS: Avatar cost 280 Million to make 
PPS: If Gone With The Wind was released today as a brand new movie taking an inflation factor into account it would have grossed $2,310,228,916 in total, but all it actually grossed was $191,749,00. 

So I knew this was going to happen, I saw the movie, I didn't think it was that great but it did have some great 3D Effects. Now most people won't care about this but Avatar becoming the most successful film in terms of gross money earned ever is kind of bullshit, if the tickets didn't cost $13.00 - $17.00 per ticket it wouldn't be so successful, basically what I mean is in terms of Ticket Sales Avatar has only sold 76,421,000 total tickets which places it in the 26th position for most ticket sales, 
 
1 "Gone With the Wind" (1939) 202,044,600
2 "Star Wars" (1977) 178,119,600
3 "The Sound of Music" (1965) 142,415,400
4 "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" (1982) 141,854,300
5 "The Ten Commandments" (1956) 131,000,000
6 "Titanic" (1997) 128,345,900
7 "Jaws" (1975) 128,078,800
8 "Doctor Zhivago" (1965) 124,135,500
9 "The Exorcist" (1973) 110,568,700
10 "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937) 109,000,000
11 "101 Dalmatians" (1961) 99,917,300
12 "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980) 98,180,600
13 "Ben-Hur" (1959) 98,000,000
14 "Return of the Jedi" (1983) 94,059,400
15 "The Sting" (1973) 89,142,900
16 "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981) 88,141,900
17 "Jurassic Park" (1993) 86,205,800
18 "The Graduate" (1967) 85,571,400
19 "Star Wars: Episode I" (1999) 84,825,800
20 "Fantasia" (1941) 83,043,500     
 
So realistically when you think about it Avatar earning as much money as much as Titanic (which is 6th place for total sales) with around 40 thousand less tickets sold is bullshit, the movie wasn't good, it was decent, the only reason it's sold so much is because of the outrageous 3D Ticket prices and Word-Of-Mouth. 
 
PS: Avatar cost 280 Million to make 
PPS: If Gone With The Wind was released today as a brand new movie taking an inflation factor into account it would have grossed $2,310,228,916 in total, but all it actually grossed was $191,749,00. 

No offense, but this type of thread has been posted at least 8 times within the past 3 days. I am really getting tired of seeing it.

Well this is the first time I've seen it. Interesting.

Actually the data you're using is North America sales only..worldwide and the figures you're using DO have inflation taken into account.  
 
Plus when working out if Avatar had beaten Titanic they did not take into account this film was more expensive to see due to the 3D glasses.
 
So to answer your question, yes Avatar is the most Successful film ever.

It's the entertainment industry, what you are selling matters much less than how you sell it. Fair play to whatever faceless corporation put out Avatar, they know how to get money.  

I think most people are pretty aware of ticket price inflation, duder. It doesn't mean that Avatar making a ton of money is insignificant in some way.  

Yeah and not to mention that a film like Gone with the Wind wouldn't have sold SHIT in this era.

WHO CARES?

See who gives a fuck.

" Yeah and not to mention that a film like Gone with the Wind wouldn't have sold SHIT in this era. "

" @Bruce said:

" Yeah and not to mention that a film like Gone with the Wind wouldn't have sold SHIT in this era. "

Relevance zero. You really wanna brag that Avatar would do better than Gone with the Wind, like this reflects positively on society? "

" @ryanwho said:

" @Bruce said:

" Yeah and not to mention that a film like Gone with the Wind wouldn't have sold SHIT in this era. "

Relevance zero. You really wanna brag that Avatar would do better than Gone with the Wind, like this reflects positively on society? "

How does it reflect badly on society in any way? "

" @HandsomeDead said:

" @ryanwho said:

" @Bruce said:

" Yeah and not to mention that a film like Gone with the Wind wouldn't have sold SHIT in this era. "

Relevance zero. You really wanna brag that Avatar would do better than Gone with the Wind, like this reflects positively on society? "

How does it reflect badly on society in any way? "

Not sure how thundercats masquerading as Native American stereotypes is any different than the mammy in Gone with the Wind. I guess it reflects out lack of change. "

" @ryanwho said:

" @HandsomeDead said:

" @ryanwho said:

" @Bruce said:

" Yeah and not to mention that a film like Gone with the Wind wouldn't have sold SHIT in this era. "

Relevance zero. You really wanna brag that Avatar would do better than Gone with the Wind, like this reflects positively on society? "

How does it reflect badly on society in any way? "

Not sure how thundercats masquerading as Native American stereotypes is any different than the mammy in Gone with the Wind. I guess it reflects out lack of change. "

Sounds like Avatar was a bit too deep for you when all you can criticize is the art style of the characters and the way they dress because it's not stereotypically alien enough for you. Am I right or am I wrong? "

" @HandsomeDead said:

" @ryanwho said:

" @HandsomeDead said:

" @ryanwho said:

" @Bruce said:

" Yeah and not to mention that a film like Gone with the Wind wouldn't have sold SHIT in this era. "

Relevance zero. You really wanna brag that Avatar would do better than Gone with the Wind, like this reflects positively on society? "

How does it reflect badly on society in any way? "

Not sure how thundercats masquerading as Native American stereotypes is any different than the mammy in Gone with the Wind. I guess it reflects out lack of change. "

Sounds like Avatar was a bit too deep for you when all you can criticize is the art style of the characters and the way they dress because it's not stereotypically alien enough for you. Am I right or am I wrong? "

You're right, my feet couldn't touch the bottom of that subtle message. And I was characterizing the way they act as well. Its fine if you like the Native American stereotype, the single tear looking at litter, whatever. But it is what it is. "

So realistically when you think about it Avatar earning as much money as much as Titanic (which is 6th place for total sales) with around 40 thousand less tickets sold is bullshit, the movie wasn't good, it was decent, the only reason it's sold so much is because of the outrageous 3D Ticket prices and Word-Of-Mouth. "

Any excuse to hate on Avatar, huh?

 I'd like to ignore the person trolling classic film and just say, despite what I said, I didn't hate the movie. I like it for the same reason I liked the Mummy movies. But I don't think its unfair to read into its success relative to previous successes of past movies and relate it to the pulse of the time.

" @ryanwho said:

" @HandsomeDead said:

" @ryanwho said:

" @HandsomeDead said:

" @ryanwho said:

" @Bruce said:

" Yeah and not to mention that a film like Gone with the Wind wouldn't have sold SHIT in this era. "

Relevance zero. You really wanna brag that Avatar would do better than Gone with the Wind, like this reflects positively on society? "

How does it reflect badly on society in any way? "

Not sure how thundercats masquerading as Native American stereotypes is any different than the mammy in Gone with the Wind. I guess it reflects out lack of change. "

Sounds like Avatar was a bit too deep for you when all you can criticize is the art style of the characters and the way they dress because it's not stereotypically alien enough for you. Am I right or am I wrong? "

You're right, my feet couldn't touch the bottom of that subtle message. And I was characterizing the way they act as well. Its fine if you like the Native American stereotype, the single tear looking at litter, whatever. But it is what it is. "

The messages in Avatar weren't subtle in the slightest but both strong and powerful. To dismiss the Na'vi as Native American stereotypes basically says to me you're trying to hard to shit on it. "

" @HandsomeDead said:

" @ryanwho said:

" @HandsomeDead said:

" @ryanwho said:

" @HandsomeDead said:

" @ryanwho said:

" @Bruce said:

" Yeah and not to mention that a film like Gone with the Wind wouldn't have sold SHIT in this era. "

Relevance zero. You really wanna brag that Avatar would do better than Gone with the Wind, like this reflects positively on society? "

How does it reflect badly on society in any way? "

Not sure how thundercats masquerading as Native American stereotypes is any different than the mammy in Gone with the Wind. I guess it reflects out lack of change. "

Sounds like Avatar was a bit too deep for you when all you can criticize is the art style of the characters and the way they dress because it's not stereotypically alien enough for you. Am I right or am I wrong? "

You're right, my feet couldn't touch the bottom of that subtle message. And I was characterizing the way they act as well. Its fine if you like the Native American stereotype, the single tear looking at litter, whatever. But it is what it is. "

The messages in Avatar weren't subtle in the slightest but both strong and powerful. To dismiss the Na'vi as Native American stereotypes basically says to me you're trying to hard to shit on it. "

Dude, it's the most obvious thing ever. Na'vi = Native Americans. It basically writes it in big letters across the screen. The message was strong and powerful...when Pocahontas did it. The only people Avatar is too deep for is 2 year olds. "

" @supermike6 said:

" @HandsomeDead said:

" @ryanwho said:

" @HandsomeDead said:

" @ryanwho said:

" @HandsomeDead said:

" @ryanwho said:

" @Bruce said:

" Yeah and not to mention that a film like Gone with the Wind wouldn't have sold SHIT in this era. "

Relevance zero. You really wanna brag that Avatar would do better than Gone with the Wind, like this reflects positively on society? "

How does it reflect badly on society in any way? "

Not sure how thundercats masquerading as Native American stereotypes is any different than the mammy in Gone with the Wind. I guess it reflects out lack of change. "

Sounds like Avatar was a bit too deep for you when all you can criticize is the art style of the characters and the way they dress because it's not stereotypically alien enough for you. Am I right or am I wrong? "

You're right, my feet couldn't touch the bottom of that subtle message. And I was characterizing the way they act as well. Its fine if you like the Native American stereotype, the single tear looking at litter, whatever. But it is what it is. "

The messages in Avatar weren't subtle in the slightest but both strong and powerful. To dismiss the Na'vi as Native American stereotypes basically says to me you're trying to hard to shit on it. "

Dude, it's the most obvious thing ever. Na'vi = Native Americans. It basically writes it in big letters across the screen. The message was strong and powerful...when Pocahontas did it. The only people Avatar is too deep for is 2 year olds. "

So because you get the message, it's bad? Where's the District 9 brigade then? Because I want to hear what they have to say about the film telling us racism is bad from start to finish with nothing else going for it. "

Oh I'm way more pissed off about the love for District 9 than I am about the reasons for Avatar being successful.
 
I don't really have a problem with Avatar per se, just with everything its success represents.

No matter how you look at it, or what kind of excuses you come up with, the simple fact is that Avatar has made more money than any movie ever has. So yes, it is the most succesfull movie ever.

"You bring up a good point. The fact that District 9 and Avatar are both so clearly racist yet preach progressive messages is kind of funny. The white man must save the stubborn naive helpless ethnic natives because they can't save themselves.  D9 at least has a single alien that's capable of thinking beyond the guidance of the benevolent savior white man. And its quite a bit more subtle, you really witness the evolution of a man who started the film as part of the problem and became a gog in the wheel of the solution Meanwhile that dumbass in Avatar goes native for 3 months then wonders why the natives wont move after telling them they should move a whole 10 minutes in advance of attack. Retarded. This is like comparing Indiana Jones and Schindler's List because they both have Nazis. "

" Oh I'm way more pissed off about the love for District 9 than I am about the reasons for Avatar being successful.  I don't really have a problem with Avatar per se, just with everything its success represents. "

" No matter how you look at it, or what kind of excuses you come up with, the simple fact is that Avatar has made more money than any movie ever has."

" @Kazona said:

" No matter how you look at it, or what kind of excuses you come up with, the simple fact is that Avatar has made more money than any movie ever has."

But has it in real terms?  Is Avatar's profit today worth more than GWTW's profit was worth in '39?    If it genuinely has (or does) then I will absolutely agree that it is the 'most successful'.  Also, Avatar profit vs. MW 2 profit would be an interesting comparison. "

" @Jimbo said:

" Oh I'm way more pissed off about the love for District 9 than I am about the reasons for Avatar being successful.  I don't really have a problem with Avatar per se, just with everything its success represents. "

Which movie did you want D9 to be? The first half or the second half? I totally get the problem people have with consistency. I still found it more interesting. Though I'm sure I dug myself into a hole comparing it to Schindler's List. I'm notthat guy, really.  "

" @WildFire: You say the tickets cost between $13 and $17, but IMAX is a very small portion of the sales generated thus far, despite the movie's 3D effects. "

Yeah, there's always been these inflation charts where they make it all even, which are cool. Though, you still have to consider that Avatar looks like it could possibly top Titanic in the US by a whole $100 million or so, which would certainly help bump it up on this list. Plus, the Oscars are coming, Avatar could easily win Best Picture, and that would certainly extend it's life and draw more people to the theaters to see it. A lot of people still haven't seen it and are reluctant, mainly over stupid reasons such as what they've heard about the not being the most original, but I think those people are missing out on a really remarkable film.

" @Jimbo: It's a useless comparison to make is what I'm saying. Why compare something that is out now to something that came out 70 years ago? If you're going that route, you might as well compare the profit made on popcorn sales now to the profit on popcorn sales made 30 years ago. "

These "better than" arguments are kinda pointless.  Sure GWTW sold more tickets way back when, but it had no competition either.  No TV, video games or whatever.  I'll bet Hollywood wasn't even the monster movie factory that it is today.  All that really matters is that Avatar was a big gamble and it paid off in spades.

@HandsomeDead said:

" @supermike6 said:

"
Dude, it's the most obvious thing ever. Na'vi = Native Americans. It basically writes it in big letters across the screen. The message was strong and powerful...when Pocahontas did it. The only people Avatar is too deep for is 2 year olds. "

So because you get the message, it's bad? Where's the District 9 brigade then? Because I want to hear what they have to say about the film telling us racism is bad from start to finish with nothing else going for it. 

Does it matter?

I see you Jake Sully.

You're also looking at things out of context. In the 1930s, nobody saw movies often. Seeing a movie was a big outing, and the theatres reflected that: they were clean, with red curtains, and an overall "fancy" vibe to them. Now they're filthy, with sticky floors, left over popcorn, etc. My point: the fact that Gone with the Wind did so well is all the more impressive since people usually only saw one or two movies a year. People see movies all the time now, so the fact that Avatar is doing so well now is less impressive.

i dont know why there are so many people focused on hating on avatar. like, it was a fairly decent movie. its not like people have to go out and find things wrong with it just because it was popular

Hey whats going on in this thre.....Oh shit.... *backs away slowly*

• Everyone talking shit about the movie has at least paid to see it
• People seem to be enjoying the movie enough to view it multiple times
• We don't have some gay movie with Leo and Kate clamoring that top spot anymore

"@Kazona said:

" @Jimbo: It's a useless comparison to make is what I'm saying. Why compare something that is out now to something that came out 70 years ago? If you're going that route, you might as well compare the profit made on popcorn sales now to the profit on popcorn sales made 30 years ago. "

 I'm pretty sure that isn't what you were saying:

"No matter how you look at it, or what kind of excuses you come up with, the simple fact is that Avatar has made more money than any movie ever has. So yes, it is the most succesfull movie ever." 
 
See?  Totally different.
 
I do agree that it's a pretty useless comparison to make though, so if you wanna call it the 'Most Successful Film of Not Ever', then I'm with you 100%. "

" @ryanwho: I saw the Navi as being more African tribal and less Native American... 
 
Nonetheless, it's was a good movie with mind-blowingly badass visuals.  I don't see how that's a bad thing in the least bit, so stop making it out like it's some horrific thing.  
 
As for the movie's success, I find it amazing to look at the weekly numbers and finding that there is such a small drop-off week after week.  It's something that we haven't seen in a long time.  LOTR nor Harry Potter were able to pull this kind of magic off.  It's amazing, and the fact that it remains this consistent says a few things to me: 

• Everyone talking shit about the movie has at least paid to see it
• People seem to be enjoying the movie enough to view it multiple times
• We don't have some gay movie with Leo and Kate clamoring that top spot anymore

"

" Yeah and not to mention that a film like Gone with the Wind wouldn't have sold SHIT in this era. "

Actually, unlike most of the people going "Who cares?" and leaving the thread, I would like to thank you for the heads-up. I always found that Avatar making more money than Titanic didn't make much sense, now it does.

It's America. All that matters is the bottom line.  Didn't  you know that? That's why Gross is announced and not ticket numbers. silly silliness.