#StarWarsTheForceAwakens Tops Avatar to Become No. 1 Film of All Time in America

By Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter

It’s official: J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the No. 1 grossing film of all time in North America, not accounting for inflation.
On Wednesday, the Disney and Lucasfilm blockbuster is overtaking the $760.5 million earned by James Cameron’s Avatar. Force Awakens — which grossed an estimated $8 million on Tuesday for a domestic total of $758.2 million — achieved the milestone in only 20 days in release, a remarkable feat.

Released in December 2009, Avatar grossed nearly $750 million in its original, seven-month run, plus another $10 million-plus when it was rereleased in theaters.
However, Force Awakens has a long way to go before eclipsing the $2.78 billion earned worldwide by Avatar. Through Monday, its worldwide tally was $1.54 billion, a staggering number that doesn’t include China, whereForce Awakens lands on Jan. 9.

Many box office observers suggest the Star Wars reboot will ultimately gross $2.2 billion-$2.4 billion globally, eclipsing Cameron’s Titanic ($2.19 billion) to become the No. 2 film of all time, not accounting for inflation.
Only two film have earned $700 million or more in North America; Avatarand Force Awakens.