# Avatar is already the highest grossing film of all time. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 22, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-is-already-the-highest-grossing-film-of-all-time/536991 "2010-04-22T15:25:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-is-already-the-highest-grossing-film-of-all-time/536991/1 "2010-04-22T15:25:52Z")
So do they really need to be inundating us with ads and promos all over television and the internet for the goddamned DVD? Haven’t they made enough already? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-is-already-the-highest-grossing-film-of-all-time/536991/2 "2010-04-22T15:33:02Z")
MOAR MONY!!! I think higher ticket prices had a lot to do with it. Next one is 3D under the sea. Won’t that be freaky! ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-is-already-the-highest-grossing-film-of-all-time/536991/3 "2010-04-22T15:44:00Z")
Wikipedia lists a promotional budget estimate of $150 million. $150 million to promote a movie. It’s like everyone involved with making it said “We spent a lot of money making this movie, and by God you’re going to eat it!” ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-is-already-the-highest-grossing-film-of-all-time/536991/4 "2010-04-22T15:56:46Z")
It’s also being re-released this summer with 6 minutes more effects. [Cite](http://www.altfg.com/blog/movie/avatar-to-be-rereleased-in-august/). Which actually is fine with me because I never got around to seeing it on the big screen. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-is-already-the-highest-grossing-film-of-all-time/536991/5 "2010-04-22T16:02:18Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Haven’t they made enough already? Do you suppose that human greed has limits? ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-is-already-the-highest-grossing-film-of-all-time/536991/6 "2010-04-22T16:06:53Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > It’s also being re-released this summer with 6 minutes more effects. [Cite](http://www.altfg.com/blog/movie/avatar-to-be-rereleased-in-august/). > > Which actually is fine with me because I never got around to seeing it on the big screen. It’s already 40 minutes too long. I would almost have considered it watchable if they had kept it under 2 hours. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-is-already-the-highest-grossing-film-of-all-time/536991/7 "2010-04-22T16:11:29Z")
Enough? We’re talking money here. ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-is-already-the-highest-grossing-film-of-all-time/536991/8 "2010-04-22T16:15:15Z")
I find it somewhat ironic that the DVD version comes packaged with a cardboard box over the snapcase which I always throw away anyway. That doesn’t sound very eco-friendky for a release that was marketed to come out on Earth Day. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-is-already-the-highest-grossing-film-of-all-time/536991/9 "2010-04-22T17:04:11Z")
What’s wrong with earning more money while harming nobody? Oh right, nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-is-already-the-highest-grossing-film-of-all-time/536991/10 "2010-04-22T17:05:33Z")
I was disappointed that, with the advent of 3D TVs on the market recently, the studio didn’t see fit to release a 3D home video version. A blockbuster available early in the format’s life would have been great to blow the market wide open, but instead I’ve read that they’re waiting for greater market penetration of the sets. _sigh_ And the girlfriend just threw $2500 at a TV that could handle 3D, too… ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-is-already-the-highest-grossing-film-of-all-time/536991/11 "2010-04-22T17:09:13Z")
Well, to be fair, they probably budgeted this DVD release and marketing long before the film was even released - not knowing they would be swimming in cash. Remember, there were even threads here predicting box-office disaster for this film. Having worked at a film studio, I have seen budgets created before production even begins - and they will set a nice chunk of change aside for DVD marketing. It is called Covering Your Ass in case the film doesn’t do well - and if it does do well at the box office, then the gravy train has arrived. Still, they have to plan packaging, ads on television, newspapers, posters, cardboard figures at your local Walmart/Best Buy etc. and tie-in’s with Burger King, etc. There is a lot of work that goes into DVD marketing and sales. It might look silly for them to do this with Avatar, but if the film had not been a gigantic hit, you can damn well bet they would still be doing everything they can to milk the last nickel out of the film anyway. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-is-already-the-highest-grossing-film-of-all-time/536991/12 "2010-04-22T17:09:53Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > What’s wrong with earning more money while harming nobody? Oh right, nothing. Excessive and ubiquitous advertising imposes psychic costs on our collective sanity. > [@Student\_Driver](#): > > I was disappointed that, with the advent of 3D TVs on the market recently, the studio didn’t see fit to release a 3D home video version. A blockbuster available early in the format’s life would have been great to blow the market wide open, but instead I’ve read that they’re waiting for greater market penetration of the sets. _sigh_ > > And the girlfriend just threw $2500 at a TV that could handle 3D, too… Oh, I’m sure they’ll release a 3d version within the next year so they can bury us in even MORE advertising. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-is-already-the-highest-grossing-film-of-all-time/536991/13 "2010-04-22T17:27:15Z")
I don’t see the problem here. On the other hand I do get annoyed by the ads where they ask you to come back and see the movie in theaters _again_. Why would I do that? And if I want to, a commercial isn’t necessary. I don’t think Avatar is doing this, but other blockbusters sometimes do. ---
**Author:** ![Robbin\_Hood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Robbin\_Hood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robbin_Hood)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-is-already-the-highest-grossing-film-of-all-time/536991/14 "2010-04-22T17:27:25Z")
> [@sage rat](#): > > enough? We’re talking money here. rotflmao ---
**Author:** ![Robbin\_Hood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Robbin\_Hood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robbin_Hood)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-is-already-the-highest-grossing-film-of-all-time/536991/15 "2010-04-22T17:28:44Z")
I’m just pissed that the DVD came with NO extras! WTF? ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-is-already-the-highest-grossing-film-of-all-time/536991/16 "2010-04-22T18:04:19Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I don’t see the problem here. On the other hand I do get annoyed by the ads where they ask you to come back and see the movie in theaters _again_. Why would I do that? And if I want to, a commercial isn’t necessary. I don’t think Avatar is doing this, but other blockbusters sometimes do. The type of ad blitz they’re conducting, it seems to me, is the same level of advertising you’d bring to support a new movie in the theaters. This movie is the highest grossing movie of all time, so everyone already knows about it, yet I can’t watch the NBA playoffs without LeBron dunking the ball while transforming into a blue alien every 10 minutes. However, I see I’m not going to be able to convince anyone that this is annoying, since you all seem to be pulling for that scrappy underdog James Cameron to succeed. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-is-already-the-highest-grossing-film-of-all-time/536991/17 "2010-04-22T18:07:18Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > The type of ad blitz they’re conducting, it seems to me, is the same level of advertising you’d bring to support a new movie in the theaters. It might be. I haven’t seen more than a couple of playoff games this year, and I’m not paying attention to the ads. You know they’re going to advertise the DVD release. Why wouldn’t they? > [@](#): > > However, I see I’m not going to be able to convince anyone that this is annoying, since you all seem to be pulling for that scrappy underdog James Cameron to succeed. That must be it: people disagree with you because they’re stupid fanboys. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-is-already-the-highest-grossing-film-of-all-time/536991/18 "2010-04-22T18:10:34Z")
Don’t dispute me, Marley! ---
**Author:** ![Algorithm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/algorithm/32/12204_2.png) [@Algorithm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algorithm)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-is-already-the-highest-grossing-film-of-all-time/536991/19 "2010-04-22T18:12:40Z")
This reminds me of a totally real conversation I had with James Cameron one day… > [@a conversation that actually happened](#): > > Me: You know Jim, you’re the richest guy I know - way richer than Steve. > [del]Mr. Burns[/del] James Cameron: Yes, but I’d trade it all…for a little more. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-is-already-the-highest-grossing-film-of-all-time/536991/20 "2010-04-22T18:29:16Z")
> [@Robbin\_Hood](#): > > I’m just pissed that the DVD came with NO extras! WTF? It’s so they can release an extra special version later. Duh. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-is-already-the-highest-grossing-film-of-all-time/536991.md?page=2)