Let’s be reasonable. It took 12 years for a film to top Titanic and Avatar has beat it in the first seven weeks at the box office, while showing no signs of slowing down. When Avatar finishes it’s run it could very well be an entire billion dollars ahead of Titanic‘s second place $1.8 billion worldwide gross. It is a massive mountain for any film to attempt to climb, but with nearly every big blockbuster recently getting the 3D addition (aka box office steroids), there is a chance. Here are ten films that could rival Avatar‘s impressive gross…or at least reach the coveted $1 billion mark, something only five films have ever accomplished.
Note: There are many promising box-office earners coming out this year including Iron Man 2, Tron: Legacy, Inception and Toy Story 3, but with this list I wanted to look far down the line. Check out the list below.
10. John Carter of Mars (Andrew Stanton, 2012)
A motion-capture/live action film about an American who wakes up on another world and has to band together with natives to save the planet. Although this sounds like an Avatar rip-off, it is based on a 1912 comic serial and with Andrew Stanton (Wall-E) is involved, the story is bound to better. It is the least likely film on the list to rival Avatar‘s box office, but if it connects with the same audience, it could be a massive hit.
9. The Avengers (TBD, May 4th, 2012)
This Marvel culmination including Iron Man, War Machine, Thor, Nick Fury, Loki, Black Widow, and The Incredible Hulk will hopefully bring in a culmination of the box office as well. While Jon Favreau has stated he is not directing, I hope they find a good director to cap off this momentous film.
8. Transformers 3 (Michael Bay, July 1st, 2011)
Despite horrendous reviews, Revenge of the Fallen made a massive $835.3M worldwide. With the recent confirmation of Paramount wanting to go 3D with the next one, it could give it the extra push at the box office. Let’s hope people are smarter this time around and I’m dead wrong.
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (David Yates, Nov. 19th, 2010 + July 15th, 2011)
The series has brought in over $1.7 billion just domestically and with Warner Brothers giving it 3D, the extra ticket prices could make the last two films the highest grossers yet.
6. The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (Steven Spielberg, Dec. 23rd, 2011)
Using the Avatar motion capture and 3D technology, Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson’s collaboration is one film that could pull in a similar audience of Cameron’s adventure.
5. The Hobbit (Guillermo Del Toro, 2012 +2013)
Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings tore up the box office early last decade. Now it’s Guillermo Del Toro’s likely darker take on the prequel. Featuring a similarly extensive production schedule and sprawling story, this will be one of the biggest series of the decade.
4. Battle Angel (James Cameron, TBD)
James Cameron’s adaptation of the manga series has been rumored for a long time. He is currently deciding between this or an Avatar sequel, but as he keeps proving again and again, his box office power is unstoppable. This adaptation would use the same technology as Avatar, so expect a similar draw and box office push thanks to 3D.
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (Rob Marshall, May 20th, 2011)
With Dead Man’s Chest being the 4th highest grossing film of the all-time, the series has proven to be a massive cash cow. We will have to find out if Chicago and Nine director Rob Marshall can bring a much-needed spark to the series without Orlando Bloom.
2. Batman 3 (Christopher Nolan, TBD)
Nolan’s dark take on the famous superhero was a massive critical success, being only one of five films to reach $1 billion at the box office. I can’t see him adding 3D technology, but knowing Nolan, I’m confident he can bring in the same audience on his eventual third film.
1. Avatar 2 (James Cameron, TBD)
As history has recently proved, the only person to top James Cameron is James Cameron. The parent company definitely wants a sequel and Cameron has said it won’t take him as long to make. With the original raking in this much cash, expect to be hearing about Avatar for a long, long time to come.
Will any of these films grab as much box office as Avatar? What has a chance?