Naysayers who said Avatar would be an utter flop were proven wrong on at least one front — the box office gross for the film’s opening weekend is an estimated $232.2 million.

That total is not even the full international release since the film has yet to be released in most of Asia. Director James Cameron has a very good track record for international box office openings, so don’t be surprised if the total grows significantly.

Now I’m not saying that just because Avatar will likely make its money back that it should be judged as a success. That will of course be a personal decision for everyone after they’ve seen it. It’s a decent indication, but not the only one.

With all the downtime provided by the holiday season, I’d expect strong box office numbers through the new year.

[Source: L.A. Times]