MUMBAI: Epic action adventure Avatar sunk the global box office record set in 1997 by Titanic to become the highest grossing film of all time.

On 25 January, Avatar touched $1.859 billion, officially passing Titanic ($1.843 billion) to become the industry’s biggest film in history at the worldwide box office. With the movie still going strong in cinemas worldwide, industry observers say it is likely to touch $2 billion.

In India, the film has done a business of Rs 1.05 billion (Rs 105 crore) so far, making it the biggest ever Hollywood film in India. The film has earned record collections at Imax, 3D and single screens across the country.

Fox Star Studios CEO Vijay Singh said, "We are deeply gratified that so many millions of people in India and around the globe have embraced Avatar. Its success results from the efforts of literally thousands of people, who worked to bring James Cameron’s vision of Pandora to life. The themes of protecting the environment, respecting life, and yearning for a peaceful planet have united moviegoers everywhere. We’re very proud of James Cameron, and the amazing team that worked to achieve this milestone."