Avatar holds steady at US and UK box office

Sci-fi spectacular Avatar continues to dominate UK and US cinemas, and has now become the most successful film ever at the international box office.

The epic film remains top of the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, with overall takings of $1.83bn (£1.141bn).

Its continued success puts in course to overtake Titanic's worldwide box-office tally of $1.84bn (£1.143bn).

In North America, the James Cameron film has replaced The Dark Knight as the second-biggest release of all time.

However, this has only been achieved due to the higher ticket prices cinemagoers have paid to see it in 3D.

Challenger

In the UK and Ireland, Avatar remains top of the box office chart for a sixth straight week.

Its weekend takings of £5.1m - which have swelled its overall haul to £57.4m - put it well ahead of its nearest challenger, Guy Ritchie film Sherlock Holmes.



Paul Bettany plays an angel fighting to save mankind in Legion
In the US and Canada, Avatar's takings now stand at $551.7m (£342.5m).

And, based on earnings outside the US and Canada, Avatar is now the biggest international release of all time.

Its takings, excluding North America, now amount to $1.287bn (£799m) - putting it $45m (£27.9m) ahead of Titanic.

As in the UK, Avatar remains unchallenged in the US and Canada after six straight weeks at number one.

Its nearest rival was Legion, an apocalyptic thriller starring Paul Bettany that opened in second place with a first weekend haul of $17.5m (£10.8m).