James Cameron sinks Titanic

Jan 27, 2010, 10:33 GMT

James Cameron has beaten his own box office record after 'Avatar' was named the highest-grossing film of all time.

The director will have been celebrating this week after film company Twentieth Century Fox confirmed the 3-D movie had earned a staggering $1.859 billion worldwide cinema sales - passing the $1.843 billion record which he set in 1997 with his blockbuster 'Titanic'.

'Avatar' - which stars Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver and Sam Worthington and features brand new motion-capture filming effects - has also been named as the highest-grossing film internationally.

However, 'Titanic' - which starred Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio as tragic lovers on board the iconic ship's ill-fated maiden voyage - remains the highest-earning movie in the US with takings of $600.8 million since it opened.

But 'Avatar' is only just behind with $554.9 million and was the top box office movie for six weeks in a row.

Cameron has been heavily praised for 'Avatar' - which he wrote, produced and directed - and the movie has already started winning a number of awards.

Earlier this month, 'Avatar' scooped the Best Director, the Best Original Score and the Best Film - Drama gongs at the Golden Globes.