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.

Two big Hollywood productions with New Zealand links have turned in disappointing opening box office figures on limited weekend releases in the US – but a third blockbuster is waiting in the wings.

Warner Bros' Invictus, directed by Clint Eastwood, collected $US9 million as it was positioned for strong word-of-mouth endorsement ahead of the awards nomination season.

Buoyant times at the box office and flood of popular and critically well received movies in recent years have prompted the Hollywood Academy Awards to double the number of best-picture nominees from five to 10.

Academy President Sid Ganis says the decision by the academy's board of governors will open the field up to more worthy films for the top prize at Hollywood's biggest party.

The change takes effect with next year's Oscars on March 7 (March 8 in New Zealand).