James Cameron showed the world he is back in full force this weekend as his new fantasy epic was met with great reviews and massive box office response. Avatar raked in an estimated $73 million domestic and $232 million worldwide, setting the record for the biggest worldwide debut for an original film (not based on a sequel or adaptation). Flickchart highlighted this fact and it can be confirmed by Box Office Mojo. The film also set the record for the second highest domestic December opening. Now the question on everyone’s mind is if this film has titanic-size legs. Cinema Blend wrote up a great feature on why this first weekend doesn’t matter so much. I saw the film for the second time this weekend and can’t wait to revisit it again. I caught my mom, who doesn’t watch many films, telling all her friends how great the movie was. I know this is just anecdotal evidence, but I think we have something very powerful on our hands and can’t wait to see what happens the next few weeks. Check out the Top 10 worldwide debuts below.

1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince $394.0
2. Spider-Man 3 $381.7
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End $344.0
4. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix $332.7
5. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith $303.9
6. The Twilight Saga: New Moon $274.9
7. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull $272.2
8. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King $250.0
9. Avatar $232.2
10. The Da Vinci Code $232.1

Did you see Avatar this weekend? Are you going again?