20th Century Fox blockbuster Avatar has stormed through the $1 billion ticket sales barrier, joining an elite group of just four other films.

BBC News reported that the James Cameron-directed movie has earned more than $350 million in the US and over $670 million in the rest of the world in just 17 days.

It joins Titanic, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and The Dark Knight in the $1bn+ gang.

Fox distribution executive Bert Livingston was quoted on BBC News Online as saying: "This is like a freight train out of control - it just keeps going. I think everybody has to see Avatar once."

The licensing programme accompanying the movie has also been steadily gaining momentum. Over 125 products across the toy, video game, apparel and publishing sectors have been secured.

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