James Cameron’s AVATAR is slowing down incrementally, but primarily due to a lack of stiff competition, the 3D techno-pic stretched its box office domination to six weeks this weekend. With Sunday estimates included, Avatar added another $36 million this weekend to its domestic take. That brings its to-date domestic total to $552.7 million, as well as $1.19 billion in foreign markets, for a worldwide box office total of $1.74 billion to date.

The strongest new entrant out of the gate was the angel-centric action flick, Legion, but even that film managed only half of Avatar’s running total; $18.2 million, still good enough for second place and certainly no travel emergency.

The Book of Eli was close behind with $17 million for third place, while The Rock powered the family flick, The Tooth Fairy, to a $14.5 million debut. The week’s most disappointing bow went to Extraordinary Measures, which struggled to find $7 million and reach seventh place – evidence of the waning box office punch of co-stars Harrison Ford and Brenden Fraser. Just don’t blame Keri Russell!

Anyway, next weekend brings the debut of the murky Mel Gibson flick, Edge of Darkness, as well as the perky rom-com, When In Rome. Can either of them come close to knocking Avatar off its first place perch?

I doubt it, but I’m willing to bet When In Rome comes closer to that feat than Edge of Darkness.