在剛剛過去的這個假日周末，美國的電影票房收入再創(chuàng)歷史新高，觀眾們紛紛涌入綜合性多廳影院觀看一系列大片。耗資巨大的科幻史詩影片《阿凡達》成為票房冠軍，它在美國的票房收入為7,500萬美元，其全球總收入達到6.173億美元。
U.S. moviegoers shattered box-office records as they crowded into multiplexes for a holiday weekend marked by high-profile films. The lavish science-fiction epic 'Avatar' led the way, selling $75 million in U.S. tickets and bringing its global tally to $617.3 million.
　　
這個周末的美國電影票房收入約為2.78億美元，一舉超過2008年7月《黑暗騎士》映那個周末所創(chuàng)2.608億美元的前票房紀錄。除《阿凡達》外，這個周末上映的電影還有《福爾摩斯》 ，它在美國的票房收入為6,540萬美元。
The estimated $278 million in weekend U.S. box-office revenue broke the previous record of $260.8 million set in July 2008, the weekend 'The Dark Night' was released. In addition to 'Avatar,' this weekend included the release of 'Sherlock Holmes,' which brought in $65.4 million in the U.S.
　　
據(jù)統(tǒng)計，美國今年迄今的電影票房總收入已達105億美元，這一毛收入雖然創(chuàng)下歷史最高紀錄，但對于解決DVD銷售收入不斷下滑這一電影公司面臨的更大問題卻起不了什么作用。
For the year, the U.S. box-office total now stands at $10.5 billion, according to , a record gross that nonetheless will do little to solve the movie studios' bigger underlying problems, particularly rapidly eroding DVD sales.
　　
《阿凡達》這部影片在向公眾推廣方面存在難度，它是一部大制作的商業(yè)電影，采用了新潁的三維電影攝制技術(shù)，如果用放預(yù)告片等傳統(tǒng)營銷技術(shù)，這部電影的魅力可能難以傳達給觀眾。拍攝該片的二十世紀?？怂褂捌菊竿ㄟ^影評和這部影片的良好口碑來吸引觀眾。
'Avatar' was a complicated movie to sell to the public, with a high-concept premise and novel 3-D filmmaking technology that could have been difficult to convey to audiences solely through trailers and other traditional marketing. Twentieth Century Fox, the studio behind the film, was counting on critics and strong word-of-mouth buzz to draw in moviegoers.
　　
觀眾對該片的反饋一直不錯。鑒于《阿凡達》在上映第二個周末獲得的國內(nèi)毛收入只比上映第一個周末減少了3%，電影公司的管理人士說，該片的觀眾數(shù)量也同樣令人印象深刻。
Reviews have been positive. With the film's domestic gross in its second weekend down only 3% from its opening weekend, studio executives said audiences were similarly impressed.
　　
影片中的故事大約發(fā)生在150年后，它描述了一名前海軍士兵到一個居住著奇異生物的遙遠世界旅行的經(jīng)歷。影片的導(dǎo)演是卡梅隆，他導(dǎo)演的《泰坦尼克號》在1997和1998年獲得了18億美元收入。
The movie, set about 150 years in the future, follows a former Marine who travels to a distant world inhabited by exotic creatures. The film was directed by James Cameron whose previous feature film 'Titanic' earned $1.8 billion in 1997 and 1998.
　　
《阿凡達》的制作成本超過3億美元，其中的60%由二十世紀福克斯影片公司的財務(wù)合伙人承擔。這家電影公司還花費了約1.5億美元的營銷費用。二十世紀?？怂褂捌居尚侣劶瘓F所有，后者也是《華爾街日報》的出版方。
'Avatar' cost in excess of $300 million to produce, 60% of which was picked up by financial partners of Fox. The studio spent an estimated $150 million more on marketing. Twentieth Century Fox is owned by News Corp., which also publishes The Wall Street Journal.
　　
《阿凡達》在Imax巨幕影廳的良好表現(xiàn)推動了該片毛收入的增長。與在普通屏幕影院放映的電影相比，巨幕影廳所放電影的票價一般要高出25%至50%。
Helping propel the gross for 'Avatar' was the movie's performance at large-screen Imax locations. Theaters generally charge 25% to 50% more for movies shown in Imax than those on regular-sized screens.
　　
Imax Corp.電影娛樂業(yè)務(wù)的董事長兼總裁福斯特說，迄今為止，《阿凡達》在巨幕影廳獲得的票房收入已經(jīng)超過3,900萬美元。他說，相比之下，《黑暗騎士》在巨幕影廳上映六周后的票房收入才達到4,500萬美元。福斯特預(yù)計《阿凡達》上映13天后的票房收入就能達到這一水平。
Imax locations have generated over $39 million in 'Avatar' sales so far, said Greg Foster, Imax Corp.'s chairman and president for filmed entertainment. By way of comparison, he said it took 'The Dark Knight' six weeks to sell $45 million worth of tickets-a level he expects 'Avatar' to achieve after just 13 days in theaters.
　　
這個周末的美國電影票房收入亞軍是華納兄弟公司出品的《福爾摩斯》。該片由里奇執(zhí)導(dǎo)，小羅唐尼主演，是一部喧鬧版的福爾摩斯探案故事。獲得票房季軍的是二十世紀福克斯影片公司另一部影片《艾爾文與花栗鼠2》，票房收入為5,020萬美元。
Second in the U.S. box-office rankings was Warner Bros.' 'Sherlock Holmes,' directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Robert Downey Jr. as a brawling version of the brainy Victorian detective. In third place was another Fox release, 'Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel,' which took in $50.2 million.
　　
美國觀眾今年迄今已購買了14.1億張電影票，比2008年多出近5%，但仍低于2002年創(chuàng)紀錄的16.1億張。
U.S. moviegoers have bought 1.41 billion tickets so far this year, almost 5% more than 2008 but still below the record of 1.61 billion that was set in 2002.