Avatar stayed top in its seventh consecutive weekend on an estimated $30m and will eclipse Titanic’s last remaining record within days to become the biggest North American release ever.

Fox and James Cameron’s behemoth stands at $594.5m and combined with the $1.45bn international running total has broken through the $2bn barrier to stand at $2.044bn worldwide. Titanic’s 12-year domestic box office record is $600.8m.

The thriller Edge Of Darknessstarring Mel Gibson in his first lead role since Signs in 2002 opened second through Warner Bros on $17.1m. Buena Vista’s romantic comedy When In Rome starring Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel launched in third on $12.1m.

Fox’s family release Tooth Fairy held firm in fourth place and added $10m for $26 after two weekends, while The Book Of Eli, released in North America through Warner Bros, finished its third weekend in fifth place on $8.8m for a solid $74.4m.

Warner Bros’ Sherlock Holmes in eighth place after six weekends is on the cusp of $200m after grossing $4.5m for $197.6m. Universal’s comedy It’s Complicated crossed $100m in its sixth weekend and ranks tenth on $104m.

Paramount-DreamWorks’ drama Up In The Air in 12th place stands at $73.2m after nine. Fox Searchlight expanded the drama Crazy Heart starring Golden Globe winner Jeff Bridges by 146 theatres into 239 and the film climbed two places to 14th in its seventh weekend, adding $2.3m for $6.6m.

CBS’ debut release Extraordinary Measures fell out of the top ten in its second weekend and ranks 13th on $10.4m.

Next weekend’s wide releases include Screen Gems’ romance Dear John with Amanda Seyfried and Channing Tatum; and Lionsgate’s action releaseFrom Paris With Lovestarring John Travolta and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers.

Estimated Top 10 North America Jan 29-31 2010
Film (Dist) / Est wkd gross / Est total to date

1 (1) Avatar (Fox) Fox Int’l $30m $594.5m

2 (-) Edge of Darkness (Warner Bros) GK Films $17.1m –

3 (-) When In Rome (Buena Vista) WDSMPI $12.1m –

4 (4) Tooth Fairy (Fox) Fox Int’l $10m $26.1m

5 (3) The Book Of Eli (Warner Bros) Summit Int’l/SPRI $8.8m $74.4m

6 (2) Legion (Screen Gems) $6.8m $28.6m

7 (5) The Lovely Bones (Paramount-DreamWorks) PPI $4.7m $38m

8 (6) Sherlock Holmes (Warner Bros) WBPI $4.5m $197.6m

9 (7) Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (Fox) Fox Int’l $4m $209.3m

10 (9) It’s Complicated (Universal) UPI $3.7m $104m

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