<P> Box Office Mojo estimates that after adjusting for the rise in average ticket prices, Avatar would be the 14th - highest - grossing film of all time in North America . Box Office Mojo also observes that the higher ticket prices for 3D and IMAX screenings have had a significant impact on Avatar's gross; it estimated, on April 21, 2010, that Avatar had sold approximately 75 million tickets in North American theatres, more than any other film since 1999's Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace . On a worldwide basis, when Avatar's gross stood at $2 billion just 35 days into its run, The Daily Telegraph estimated its gross was surpassed by only Gone with the Wind ($3.0 billion), Titanic ($2.9 billion) and Star Wars ($2.2 billion) after adjusting for inflation to 2010 prices, with Avatar ultimately winding up with $2.8 billion by the end of its run in 2010 . Reuters even placed it ahead of Titanic after adjusting the global total for inflation . The 2015 edition of Guinness World Records lists Avatar only behind Gone with the Wind in terms of adjusted grosses worldwide .' </P> <P> Before its release, various film critics and fan communities predicted the film would be a significant disappointment at the box office, in line with predictions made for Cameron's previous blockbuster Titanic . This criticism ranged from Avatar's film budget, to its concept and use of 3 - D "blue cat people". Slate magazine's Daniel Engber complimented the 3D effects, but criticized them for reminding him of certain CGI characters from the Star Wars prequel films and for having the "uncanny valley" effect . The New York Times noted that 20th Century Fox executives had decided to release Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel alongside Avatar, calling it a "secret weapon" to cover any unforeseeable losses at the box - office . </P> <P> James Cameron on criticism of Avatar before its release . </P> <P> Box office analysts, on the other hand, estimated that the film would be a box office success . "The holy grail of 3 - D has finally arrived," said an analyst for Exhibitor Relations . "This is why all these 3 - D venues were built: for Avatar . This is the one . The behemoth ." The "cautionary estimate" was that Avatar would bring in around $60 million in its opening weekend . Others guessed higher . There were also analysts who believed that the film's three - dimensionality would help its box office performance, given that recent 3D films had been successful . </P>

How much did the actors in avatar make