Topping the box office with an estimated $30 million in its seventh week of release, Avatar [HWAVA] advanced its total up to $594.5 million. With just $6 million short of Titanic, the 3D sci-fi epic is poised to become the all-time domestic recordholder on Tuesday. Worldwide, Avatar has earned an astronomical $2 billion, surpassing the previous high of $1.8 billion, also by Titanic.
Even if he couldn't topple Avatar, Mel Gibson [MGIBS] proved he remained a box office draw. The thriller Edge of Darkness [EDRKN] opened in second place with a respectable $17.1 million.
The critically-panned When in Rome [WROME] did better than expected. The romantic comedy debuted with $12.1 million to finish third overall.
The Tooth Fairy [TOFRY] decayed 29% in its second weekend to $10 million, while fellow sophomore pic Legion [LEGIN] tumbled 61% to $6.8 million.
| Rank | TITLE | F-S-S | TOTAL |
| 1 | AVATAR | $30,000,000 | $594,472,387 |
| 2 | EDGE OF DARKNESS | $17,120,000 | $17,120,000 |
| 3 | WHEN IN ROME | $12,065,000 | $12,065,000 |
| 4 | THE TOOTH FAIRY | $10,000,000 | $26,106,278 |
| 5 | BOOK OF ELI | $8,770,000 | $74,373,000 |
| 6 | LEGION | $6,800,000 | $28,646,000 |
| 7 | THE LOVELY BONES | $4,735,000 | $38,014,000 |
| 8 | SHERLOCK HOLMES | $4,510,000 | $197,596,000 |
| 9 | ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE SQUEAKQUEL | $4,000,000 | $209,297,861 |
| 10 | IT'S COMPLICATED | $3,720,400 | $104,027,220 |
| 11 | THE BLIND SIDE | $3,020,000 | $237,913,000 |
| 12 | UP IN THE AIR | $2,700,000 | $73,173,000 |
Source: Exhibitor Relations Co.
Tag(s): HWAVA, MGIBS, EDRKN, WROME, TOFRY, LEGIN