Los Angeles, Jan 18 (DPA) Even the box office power of Denzel Washington can't beat the phenomenon of 'Avatar'.

Washington's new movie, the post-apocalyptic religious thriller 'The Book of Eli', debuted with $31.6 million for second place at US cinemas, while 'Avatar' continued its march in first place with an estimated $41.3 million, according to figures released by Box Office Mojo.

With an additional $125 million coming from international markets the most expensive movie of all time is now just $200 million short of the all-time box office record of $1.8 million held by 'Titanic'.

Third place went to Peter Jackson's thriller, 'The Lovely Bones' with $17.5 million, followed by 'Alvin' and the 'Chipmunks: The Squeakquel', ($11.5 million) and 'Sherlock Holmes' ($9.8 million).

The other movies in the top 10 were 'The Spy Next Door', 'It's Complicated', 'Leap Year', 'The Blind Side' and 'Up in the Air'.