James Cameron’s worldwide hit “Avatar” returns to Philippine screens on January 8 (Friday) in 2D, Digital 3D and IMAX 3D theaters.

Rave’s the word as “Avatar” amassed to a worldwide gross of US$1.022 billion in just 17 days of release – inclusive of Philippines’ receipt which cumed at P132.12 million.

The record sets “Avatar” in the Philippines as the 5thHighest Grossing Film All-Time next to “Titanic” (P198.61 million), “X-Men 3” (P 163.10) “Fantastic Four 2” (P 139.76 million) and “The Day After Tomorrow” (P 138.62 million).  It has now surpassed the records of “Die Another Day” (P 130.24 million) and “Star Wars Episode 3” (P 124.69 million).

Touted as the world’s revolutionary move in filmmaking, “Avatar’s” return engagement in Phil. theaters this January will most likely make the movie shift steps higher than its current 5th as the local market awaits.

The movie revolves around Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) himself, an ex marine who on Earth is confined to a wheelchair.  He is recruited by the military to take part in a mission on Pandora, a distant moon. Using genetic engineering, Jake is able to project his   mind and emotions, (or consciousness) inside an ‘avatar’, the giant blue body of an alien hybrid, which closely resembles the native population, the Na’vi. As a powerful avatar warrior, Jake (who can now walk again) is charged with infiltrating the tribe and participating in a program that is plundering Pandora’s natural resources – strip mining a valuable mineral.  He falls in love with Zoe Saldana’s captivating character, Neytiri, who saves his life. The relationship leads to a transformational journey for Sully and a series of rigorous tests he has to undertake.

The movie is a riveting adventure that is also dazzling visually, as James Cameron draws us into the wondrous world he has created. At the same time, “Avatar” is a powerful cautionary tale about the dangers of colonization and avarice.

James Cameron continues to be king of the world as “Avatar” gushed in a total of P 57.67 million on its first 4-day opening weekend in the Phils. With more than 370,000 admissions to-date, “Avatar” now holds the Biggest Opening Weekend record for a Fox Film that opened in 2009.

The immersive, jaw-dropping story and 3d technology used by James Cameron in “Avatar” pulled in a moviedom’s multitude to experience first-hand what it’s like to enter a whole new dimension of cinema.  Cameron’s unprecedented work in “Avatar” brought in an extraordinary experience to moviegoers as reflected in the top 20 theaters that pulled in the following significant figures.

“Avatar’s” top 5 at the box-office are SM Mall of Asia (P 6 million); SM North Edsa (P 3.75 million); Trinoma (P 2.97 million); Greenbelt3 (P 2.41 million) and SM Cebu (P 2.17 million).

Amassing more of the “Avatar” craze are SM Megamall (P 2.11 million); Gloriettta4 (P 2.02 million); Gateway Cineplex (P 1.70 million); Alabang Town Center (P 1.69million); Powerplant (P 1.23 million); Eastwood (P 1.16 million); Theatremall (P 1.09 million); Ayala Cebu (P 1.08 million); Robinson’s Galleria (P 1.07 million); Gaisano Davao (P 1.06 million); Robinson’s Ermita (P 1.04 million); Shang Cineplex (P 942, 123); SM Iloilo (P 853, 494); SM Clark (P 837, 117); SM Baguio (P 764, 698).

Mr. Francis Soliven, General Manager of Warner Bros. (Phils.), distributor of 20th Century Fox films enthuses, “This is an absolutely thrilling result in the Philippines, mirroring the outstanding openings of “Avatar” all over the world.  We’re very proud to be given this opportunity to present James Cameron’s “Avatar” to Filipino moviegoers, after his last filmmaking masterpiece, “Titanic.”

“Avatar” is the story of an ex-Marine, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) who finds himself thrust into hostilities on a distant planet filled with exotic life forms.  As an Avatar, a human consciousness in an alien body, he finds himself torn between two worlds in a desperate fight for his own survival and that of the indigenous people called Na’vi.

WETA Digital, renowned for its work in “The Lord of the Rings Trilogy” and “King Kong,” has incorporated new intuitive CGI technologies along with James Cameron that created environments and characters of photorealistic quality that transports the audience into a world rich with imaginative vistas, creatures and characters.  The movie also stars Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, Michelle Rodriguez and Zoe Saldana.

“Avatar” is still showing in the Philippines in all formats (2D, Digital 3D and IMAX 3D) from 20th Century Fox distributed by Warner Bros.