James Cameron’s much-anticipated epic Avatar: Fire and Ash has made an impressive start at the global box office, earning $345 million worldwide by the end of its opening weekend. While the numbers are massive by any standard, the third instalment of the Avatar franchise is still $95 million behind the opening weekend performance of its predecessor, Avatar: The Way of Water (2022).
According to industry estimates, Avatar: Fire and Ash collected $88 million in North America and $257 million from international markets, making it the second-highest global opening of the year, behind Disney’s animated hit Zootopia 2, which debuted at $497 million. Premium formats such as IMAX and 3D screenings contributed nearly 66% of the film’s opening weekend revenue, underlining the franchise’s continued appeal as a theatrical spectacle.
Interestingly, the film has performed particularly well in China, where it earned $57.6 million, surpassing the opening weekend figures of both previous Avatar films in that market. However, its performance in India has been comparatively modest. The film earned Rs 66.25 crore over its opening weekend, significantly lower than The Way of Water, which had collected Rs 128.80 crore during the same period in 2022.
Despite the slower start compared to Avatar 2, trade analysts note that the Avatar franchise is known for its long and steady box office runs rather than explosive openings. The original Avatar (2009), for instance, opened modestly in North America but went on to earn $2.92 billion worldwide, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of all time.
Produced by The Walt Disney Company, Avatar: Fire and Ash stars Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana, reprising their roles as Jake Sully and Neytiri. With Avatar 4 and 5 yet to be officially greenlit, the film’s long-term box office performance will play a crucial role in determining the future of the franchise.
