List of box office records set by Avatar

Avatar was released in December 2009 and went on to break multiple box office records in various markets. Worldwide, it became the highest-grossing film of all time and the fastest film to gross $1 billion through $2.5 billion, while also achieving the highest grosses in both the 3D and IMAX formats. In its domestic market of the United States and Canada, it set the records for the highest-grossing film and the highest-grossing second through seventh weekends, as well as becoming the fastest film to gross $500 million through $750 million. Elsewhere, it became the highest-grossing film of all time in over 30 markets including China, Hong Kong, Romania, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.

Box office analysts identified several factors contributing to the film's success. Among these were the relative lack of competition owing to the release date, a marketing strategy that emphasized the novelty of the cinematic experience which led viewers to watch it in the theater rather than at home, positive word of mouth and repeat viewings increasing the film's staying power in theaters, an ability to attract audiences across the globe, and higher ticket prices from 3D and IMAX showings. Many of the records set by the film are listed below. Pre-Avatar records and new records surpassing Avatar are presented where available and applicable. All grosses are given in unadjusted US dollars, except where noted otherwise.

Worldwide Avatar set the worldwide record for the highest gross of all time, surpassing the previous record by more than 50%, and grossed $2 billion in less time than it had taken the previous fastest-grossing film to gross half as much. The film also exceeded the previous record for highest gross in the IMAX format by a factor of more than three. +RecordFigurePrevious record holderSurpassed byNotesHighest-grossing film$2.789 billionTitanic – $1.84 billionAvengers: Endgame – $2.797 billionIt became the highest-grossing film in history on January 25, 2010, after 41 days of release, and had become the second-highest-grossing film worldwide 20 days after its initial release.$2.923 billionAvengers: Endgame – $2.797 billionAvengers: Endgame – $2.925 billionAfter relinquishing the record to Avengers: Endgame in July 2019, Avatar reclaimed it in March 2021 with a re-release in China. Endgame reclaimed the record in October 2026 with a global re-release.Highest-grossing non-sequel$2.923 billionTitanic – $1.84 billionHighest-grossing science fiction film$2.923 billionStar Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $924 millionHighest-grossing 2009 release$2.74 billionIt was the only 2009 release to gross more than $1 billion.Highest 3D gross$1.35 billionHighest IMAX gross$270 millionThe Polar Express – $71 millionThe Odyssey – $289 millionFastest film to gross $1 billion19 daysPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest – 63 daysFurious 7 – 17 daysFastest film to gross $1.5 billion daysTitanic (see note)Star Wars: The Force Awakens – daysTitanic reached $1 billion on March 1, 1998 after days of release, and had reached approximately $1.7 billion by June 23, 1998, i.e. after days of release.Fastest film to gross $2 billion47 daysIt was the first film to reach that gross.Avengers: Endgame – 11 daysFastest film to gross $2.5 billion daysIt was the first film to reach that gross.Avengers: Endgame – days (see note)Outside of the US and Canada, the gross was $1,839.0 million as of February 28, 2010 and the weekend gross for February 26–28, 2010 was $30.6 million, giving a gross of $ million as of February 25, 2010. Adding to that the US and Canada gross of $692.9 million as of February 25, 2010 gives a worldwide gross of $ billion as of February 25, 2010. Endgame was released on April 24, 2019, and the gross as of May 13, 2019 was $1,774.7 million outside of the US and Canada and $728.4 million in the US and Canada for a worldwide gross of $ billion.Highest opening weekend gross for a non-franchise, non-sequel$242 million2012 – $230 millionFastest to $100 million in IMAX ticket sales daysIt was the first film to reach this gross.Jurassic World – 18 daysFastest to $150 million in IMAX ticket sales47 daysIt was the first film to reach this gross.Star Wars: The Force Awakens – 19 daysFastest to $200 million in IMAX ticket sales daysIt was the first film to reach this gross.Star Wars: The Force Awakens – 35 daysWidest IMAX release261 theatersAlice in Wonderland – 270 theatersOf these, 178 were in the US and Canada. For Alice in Wonderland, 188 were in the US and Canada.Highest fourth-weekend IMAX gross$12.2 millionStar Wars: The Force Awakens – $19 million

United States and Canada In the domestic market, Avatar set the record for the highest-grossing film of all time as well as several weekend records. It also set speed records for grosses at and above $500 million, and had the widest IMAX and 3D releases of any film up to that time. +RecordFigurePrevious record holderSurpassed byNotesHighest-grossing film$760 millionTitanic – $600 millionStar Wars: The Force Awakens – $936 millionIt passed Titanics gross in 47 days.Highest-grossing non-sequel$785 millionTitanic – $600 millionHighest-grossing 2009 release$749 millionHighest gross during the 2010 calendar year$466 millionHighest IMAX gross$140 millionFastest to $500 million32 daysThe Dark Knight – 45 daysThe Avengers – 23 daysIt grossed $504 million in that time.Fastest to $550 million38 daysTitanic – 121 daysThe Avengers – 31 daysIt grossed $551 million in that time.Fastest to $600 million47 daysTitanic – 255 daysJurassic World – 36 daysIt grossed $601 million in that time.Fastest to $650 million58 daysIt was the first film to reach that gross.Star Wars: The Force Awakens – 14 daysIt grossed $651 million in that time.Fastest to $700 million72 daysIt was the first film to reach that gross.Star Wars: The Force Awakens – 16 daysIt grossed $702 million in that time.Fastest to $750 million253 daysIt was the first film to reach that gross.Star Wars: The Force Awakens – 18 daysIt grossed $750 million in that time.Highest 2nd weekend gross$75.6 millionThe Dark Knight – $75.1 millionThe Avengers – $103 millionHighest 3rd weekend gross$68.4 millionSpider-Man – $45.0 millionStar Wars: The Force Awakens – $90.2 millionHighest 4th weekend gross$50.3 millionTitanic – $28.7 millionHighest 5th weekend gross$42.7 millionTitanic – $30.0 millionHighest 6th weekend gross$34.9 millionTitanic – $25.2 millionHighest 7th weekend gross$31.2 millionTitanic – $25.9 millionHighest 37th weekend gross$4.0 millionMy Big Fat Greek Wedding – $2.7 millionHighest Christmas weekend gross$75.6 millionThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $50.5 millionStar Wars: The Force Awakens – $149 millionIn 2009. The Return of the King was in 2003. The Force Awakens was in 2015.Highest Martin Luther King weekend 4-day gross$54.4 millionCloverfield – $46.1 millionAmerican Sniper – $107 millionIn 2010. Cloverfield was in 2008. American Sniper was in 2015.Highest Martin Luther King weekend 3-day gross$42.7 millionCloverfield – $40.0 millionAmerican Sniper – $89.2 millionHighest January weekend gross$68.4 millionCloverfield – $40.0 millionAmerican Sniper – $89.2 millionHighest opening weekend gross for an original film$77 millionThe Incredibles – $70 millionInside Out – $91 millionHighest opening weekend IMAX gross$9.5 millionStar Trek – $8.5 millionAlice in Wonderland – $12.2 millionHighest opening weekend 3D gross$55 millionUp – $35.4 millionAlice in Wonderland – $81.3 millionHighest Christmas Eve gross$11.2 millionThe Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $7.7 millionStar Wars: The Force Awakens – $27.1 millionIn 2009. The Two Towers was in 2002. The Force Awakens was in 2015.Highest New Year's Day gross$25.2 millionMeet the Fockers – $18.2 millionStar Wars: The Force Awakens – $34.3 millionIn 2010. Meet the Fockers was in 2005. The Force Awakens was in 2016.Highest January single-day gross$25.2 million$25.8 millionMeet the Fockers – $18.2 millionAmerican Sniper – $30.3 millionOn January 1 and then January 2, 2010. For Meet the Fockers, it was January 1, 2005. For American Sniper, it was January 16, 2015.Highest second Tuesday gross$18.2 millionThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $10.2 millionStar Wars: The Force Awakens – $29.5 millionOn December 29, 2009. For The Fellowship of the Ring, it was January 1, 2002. For The Force Awakens, it was December 29, 2015.Highest second Wednesday gross$18.4 millionThe Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $12.3 millionStar Wars: The Force Awakens – $28.0 millionOn December 30, 2009. For The Two Towers, it was December 25, 2002. For The Force Awakens, it was December 30, 2015.Number one film of the highest-grossing single aggregated weekend$269 millionJuly 18–20, 2008 – $260 millionJune 12–14, 2015 – $273 millionThe figure represents the combined gross of all films in theaters on the weekend of December 25–27, 2009. Avatar grossed . The Dark Knight grossed of the previous record. Jurassic World grossed of the record that surpassed Avatars.Number one film of the highest-grossing aggregated December$1.06 billionDecember 2007 – $993 millionDecember 2015 – 1.30 billionThe figure represents the combined gross of all films in theaters in December 2009. Avatar grossed 26.6%. I Am Legend comprised 20.1% of December 2007's gross. Star Wars: The Force Awakens comprised 50.0% of December 2015's gross.Number one film of the highest-grossing aggregated January$1.05 billionJanuary 2009 – $1.01 billionThe figure represents the combined gross of all films in theaters in January 2010. Avatar grossed 29.5%. Gran Torino comprised 10.2% of January 2009's gross.Widest 3D release2,038 theatersAlice in Wonderland – 2,251 theatersWidest IMAX release178 theatersStar Trek – 138 theatersAlice in Wonderland – 188 theatersSmallest second weekend drop for a film opening over $50 milliondown 1.8%How the Grinch Stole Christmas – down 5.4%Highest-grossing film in any single December$283 millionThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $249 millionStar Wars: The Force Awakens – $652 millionHighest-grossing film in any single January$312 millionTitanic – $188 million

Other territories Avatar became the highest-grossing film of all time in more than 30 markets spanning all six continents (not counting Antarctica). Data on precise figures, previous record holders, and surpassed records is limited due to the absence of box office record trackers for these markets.