"Avatar" rakes in more than 1 billion dollars worldwide

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- "Avatar" continued to storm the box office on Sunday, passing the one-billion-dollar mark in worldwide revenues, according to newly-released figures.

Cast members Zoe Saldana (L) and Sam Worthington pose at the premiere of "Avatar" at the Mann's Grauman  Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California December 16,  2009. The movie opens in the U.S. on December 18.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

The Fox Studios movie is again this weekend box office champ with 68.3 million dollars in projected sales, Hollywood.com estimated.

The movie, the story of an ex-Marine who finds himself thrust into hostilities on an alien planet filled with exotic life forms, has grossed 352.1 million dollars in the United States and Canada, and 670.2 million overseas.

Director of the movie James Cameron and his wife Suzy Amis pose at the premiere of "Avatar" at the Mann's Grauman Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California  December 16, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Analyst Paul Dergerabedian said the film is the highest-grossing IMAX release ever, with 66.4 million in 3-D round-screen sales.

"Sherlock Holmes" was in second place, with 38.4 million in estimated holiday weekend sales. The Warner Bros. release is projected to take in 140.7 million in its first two weeks of release.

"Alvin And the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" is in third, with a predicted 36.6 million in weekend sales for a two-week total of 157.3 million.