James Cameron’s sci-fi epic Avatar has officially surpassed Titanic’s domestic box office record with $601.2 million dollars (and counting) as of Tuesday according to The Hollywood Reporter. Avatar, much like Titanic, was pegged early on as an expensive film that would likely bomb much like Waterworld or Heaven’s Gate but has managed to prove naysayers wrong with its international & domestic box office returns. Avatar has also fared exceptionally well critically (82% fresh on RottenTomatoes) and awards wise (leading with 9 Oscar nominations along with The Hurt Locker). An astounding feat for a film once doomed by many to be a failure of epic proportions. Although increased 3D ticket prices do account for some of Avatar’s monumental performance, the film has no signs of slowing down anytime soon and could easily add another 100+ million to its already staggering total.

Despite his 12 year absence after Titanic, James Cameron has once again proven that he is “the King of the World” with both the number 1 and number 2 domestic and international box office champions. The only question now is if he can repeat his Oscar success? It is unlikely considering the overwhelming support The Hurt Locker has received from the guilds but stranger upsets have happened.

Are you surprised by Avatar’s box office triumph and do you think Cameron can pull it off again?