20th Century Fox has cleared up the run time rumors for James Cameron’s AVATAR, claiming that the actual length of the film is 150 minutes (or two and a half hours), which “may rise to 156 minutes when all of the credits are added on, but that would be the maximum running time. ”

This is a decision mandated by IMAX, which has a maximum running time of 170 minutes (with pre-show entertainment and trailers). A two and a half hour running time will allow exhibitors to have a total of five shows per day in each auditorium, with screenings beginning at 10:00am, and two evening showings in each screen, most likely at 7:00pm and 10:00pm. Screenings will begin at midnight on Thursday 17th, and run around the clock for the first weekend, or until demand dies down. Fox estimates that the film will play in 3D on 3,500 screens in 2,500 locations, and will also be available in about 1,500 other locations in 2D on 2,000 to 2,500 non 3D screens.

Domestic movie theaters are expected to commit to an eight-week initial run for “Avatar,” but ultimately that will depend on its performance. If it is disappointing, that could be cut short, and if it becomes as popular as “Titanic” was in its time, it could play even longer.

Just last night, CBS’ 60 Minutes aired a 13-minute segment on James Cameron and AVATAR and you can watch that, in addition to a new AVATAR Featurette entitled “Through Eyes Of Colonel Quaritch” below, which is about the character played by Stephen Lang.

60 Minutes: James Cameron’s Avatar

AVATAR Featurette: Through Eyes Of Colonel Quaritch