AFTER six weeks of release, James Cameron's $300 million 3D sci-fi epic Avatar has toppled 1997's Titanic, the director's previous movie, as the biggest-grossing film of all time. In unadjusted dollars.



The film, which set a new box office speed record by taking a billion dollars within three weeks of its December 17 release, has so far tallied a worldwide total of $US1.86 billion ($A2.06 billion), compared with Titanic's $US1.843 billion.

But once inflation is taken into account, the picture changes: Avatar doesn't even crack the top 20.

Gone with the Wind, the 1939 romantic epic starring Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable and a burning Atlanta, remains the true king of the movie world, according to industry source Box Office Mojo.

In adjusted figures, the film earned $US1.48 billion at the US box office - $US198.67 million in 1939 - with a worldwide take of just on $US3 billion - $US400 million in 1939. This figure has been extrapolated because Box Office Mojo doesn't maintain an adjusted list for worldwide figures.

The next highest is Star Wars with an adjusted total of $US1.3 billion ($US461 million in 1977) and a worldwide take of $US 2.2 billion (extrapolated).

Titanic comes in at No. 6 with $US943.3 million ($US600.7 million in 1997), while Avatar ranks at 26 with a US take of $US561.7 million.

But to be fair to Cameron's latest blockbuster, Gone with the Wind has had the benefit of 70 years and six major re-releases, while Avatar has been around for just over 40 days.