Ex-couple James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow have dominated the Oscar nominations with their respective movies Avatar and The Hurt Locker.

Two Wellington-based productions from Weta are among the 10 nominations for best picture, the first time the number for Oscar contention have been increased from the usual five.

Avatar is up against Sir Peter Jackson’s production District 9, both of which used Weta’s New Zealand-made special effects.

Barely a month after its release, James Cameron's sci-fi blockbuster Avatar has overtaken Titanic to become the highest-grossing movie of all time.

The estimated worldwide box office takings have reached $US1.8 billion after Avatar continued to be the top attraction in US theatres for the sixth successive weekend,

It is taking more that $US2 million each week day in the US and has passed what Titanic, also made by Cameron, earned over the course of about 10 months.

As expected, sci-fi blockbuster Avatar cleaned up at the 67th Golden Globe awards, taking the prizes for best drama and best director.

This positions the James Cameron 3D spectacular for other big wins at the Academy Awards.

Avatar is not only the most expensive movie ever made – more than $US400 million including marketing costs – it is also poised to become the highest-grossing global release ever.

Global takings so far exceed $US1.6 billion but the buzz in Hollywood was that it had not endeared itself as an Oscar winner.

The New Zealand-made special blockbuster Avatar has powered its way to help set Hollywood’s biggest box-office weekend of all time in North America.

The film is also setting the box office pace in New Zealand and around the world despite strong competition from other features.

Spectacular special effects film Avatar has already recovered more than half its budget, excluding marketing costs, at the world box office.

According to an estimate by Hollywood.com, Avatar has grossed about $US232.2 million against a budget said to be $US300 million, making it the most expensive film ever made.