NEW YORK,USA (AP) — Avatar is on the cusp of toppling the domestic box-office record after leading all movies for a seventh straight week.

James Cameron’s 3-D epic earned $30 million over the weekend, and its domestic total reached $594.5 million, according to studio estimates yesterday. That puts the film only about $6 million behind the domestic record set by Cameron’s Titanic in 1998 with $600.8 million.

Earlier this week, the 20th Century Fox blockbuster passed Titanic for the worldwide box-office record. It has now crossed the $2 billion worldwide mark with $2.039 billion, easily beating the $1.8 billion made by Titanic.

“You have to do a double take when you see these numbers,” said Paul, Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for Hollywood.com, marvelling that Avatar decreased only 14 per cent from the previous weekend. “James Cameron is the king of the box office hold.”

So close to the domestic box office record, Avatar could pass Titanic, interestingly enough, tomorrow — when Oscar nominations are announced. The film is expected to be nominated for best picture, as well as in numerous other categories.

Those nominations could mean an Oscar bump at the box office for Avatar, further propelling its gross.

Whereas the sustained box office performance of Titanic has typically been attributed to teenage girls seeing the film repeatedly, the demographics for Avatar are less clear. One draw for repeat business is surely the 3-D visual effects.

Analysts believe the lengthy run from Avatar is likely hurting the business of other films.

Mel Gibson’s revenge-thriller Edge of Darkness debuted this weekend with $17.1 million for Warner Bros, a respectable if slightly low total. Dan Fellman, head of distribution at Warner Bros, called it a “solid opening”.

“On a normal weekend, we probably would have had the number one film,” said Fellman, shrugging at the out-of-this-world competition from Avatar.

Edge of Darkness had been widely seen as a test of whether Gibson can return to headlining a film, after eight years and damage to his image. The last movie he starred in was Signs in 2002. Four years later, he made anti-Semitic remarks during a drunken-driving arrest. He has concentrated on directing and producing such films as The Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto.

But Darkness has received mostly good reviews. Fellman said the studio’s data showed approximately 70 per cent of those seeing the film said they came to see Gibson.

“It certainly marks an interesting return for Mel Gibson,” said Fellman. “When this film plays out, I think his star will shine a little brighter.”

Also in its first weekend of release was When in Rome, the Walt Disney romantic comedy starring Kristen Bell. It took in $12.1 million.

Many films will hope for a box office boost from the Academy Awards after nominations are announced tomorrow morning. The Oscar effect, though, may be slightly different this year, since the academy has expanded best picture nominees from five to ten.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at US and Canadian theatres, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released today.

1. Avatar, $30 million

2. Edge of Darkness, $17.1 million

3. When in Rome, $12.1 million

4. The Tooth Fairy, $10 million

5. The Book of Eli, $8.8 million

6. Legion, $6.8 million

7. The Lovely Bones, $4.7 million

8. Sherlock Holmes, $4.5 million

9. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, $4 million

10. It’s Complicated, $3.7 million