It was claimed to be with the newest high-tech 3D filming with cameras without conversion. It was a great gimmick that won over people because it was also claimed to have a really massive budget spent on CGI with colorful scenes.

If it wasn't for the 3D I probably can't see Avatar beating Titanic. I just know that Resident Evil did the same gimmick with Afterlife (they claimed it was filmed using Jame Cameron's 3D technology) and it was the first RE film to explode (well over seas....)

Now that we have billions of 3D movies out, its lost its appeal. Now no one cares about a film in 3D. So if a film tries to rely on using Jame Cameron's 3D technology, it probably wouldn't help much.

Star Wars relies heavily on the generation that grew up with it, Avatar was something completely new an captivating for a wider audience. So it makes sense that Avatar is still on top.

Looks like Star Wars won't have one of the T10 (adjusted) 5th weekends since 1980. It'd take $29 million, and Box Office Mojo is predicting it's behind Ride Along and Revenant this weekend with about $25 million.

I suppose Return of the Jedi will have more T10 weekend spots: it has one of the T10 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th weekends.

Poor that. Neither film is deserving of the record though.

I never used Star Wars franchise so this is good.

Avatar had amazing landscape visuals. And the first film that made me watch it twice on the big screen.
probably some others did too, hence why it grossed 2+ biliion,