According to Variety, James Cameron’s sci-fi opus AVATAR has broke the $1 billion mark world wide.  This alien Romeo and Juliet story has pulled in a total of $1.4 billion total, $480 million of that being domestic and including a wildly popular $40 million opening in China.


Part of the success of AVATAR is that you just can’t get away from it.  The film is offered in all ways one can see a movie; regular, 3D, or supersized Imax.  And it has been in theaters since December 18th and still has another 7 weeks showing in Imax theaters.

Imax CEO Richard Gelfond expects the record boxoffice from “Avatar 3D” to spur return viewing for future Hollywood 3D titles on his screens locally and internationally.


“There will be an ‘Avatar’ halo. Some people went to an Imax theater for the first time to see ‘Avatar.’ Many liked the experience, and will come back again,” he said.

This repeat business is good news for James Cameron.  His last big hit TITANIC is the world record holder of the highest foreign grossing movie of all time at $1.8 billion.  At the rate it is going AVATAR looks like it will very likely top that, showing that Mr. Cameron can top himself.

According to Variety, Disney’s new 2D feature THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG has made its way to be one of the scores ok’d to compete for the Original Score Oscar.  This is certainly ironic since according to the Academy rules all movie that the ”scores diminished in impact by the predominant use of songs” are kicked out of the running.  The rule was created after a 4 year sweep for the Original Score Oscar by Disney musicals, making a category made to reward ”dramatic underscoring, in actuality an award in song writing.  However, THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG may still be disqualified for “diminished impact” down the road, but has made the first cut.

In other musical news, Simpson’s fans are on pins and needles over the premiere of  the 450th episode of THE SIMPSONS. “Once Upon a Time in Springfield” is a musical ode to TV ratings and the power of the female tween demographic staring the voice of Anne Hathaway as Krusty the Clown’s new sidekick Princess Penelope.

She’s a wonderful singer who can sing in this Disney-esque kind of fantasy voice,” says “Simpsons” composer Alf Clausen, who penned three original tunes and arranged two more for the show, in addition to composing the episode’s underscore. The original songs (with lyrics by “Simpsons” writer Stephanie Gillis) are very much in the early-Disney “Snow White” style, he says.

Airing after “Once Upon a Time in Springfield” is The Simpsons’ 20th anniversary episode “The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special in 3-D on Ice.”  Catch them both this Sunday on Fox at 8 PM.