The real question, however, isn’t how “Fire and Ash” opened — it’s how long it can last. The “Avatar” franchise is famous not for explosive first weekends but for exceptional staying power over the holidays and beyond.
The original 2009 film “Avatar” opened to $77 million domestically and went on to dominate the box office for seven straight weekends, eventually earning $760 million in North America and a staggering $2.92 billion worldwide. Its sequel repeated that feat, holding the No. 1 spot for seven weekends and finishing with $688 million domestically and $2.3 billion globally.
Internationally, “Avatar: Fire and Ash” debuted with $257 million, bringing its worldwide total to $345 million. That ranks among the largest global openings of the year, though it falls well short of the $435 million worldwide debut posted by the second film. Early ticket sales also landed below expectations, which had projected a $90 million to $105 million domestic start, raising concerns about diminishing returns for the franchise.
What those diminishing returns ultimately look like remains unclear. “Avatar” films come with enormous costs, typically exceeding $350 million to produce, with tens of millions more spent on marketing. Cameron previously said that “The Way of Water” needed to become one of the highest-grossing films of all time just to break even — which it did. While “Fire and Ash” may not need to cross $2 billion to be considered a success, it will still need a massive global haul to justify its price tag.
Several factors could work in the film’s favor. Audiences gave it an “A” grade on CinemaScore exit polls, suggesting strong word of mouth. The Christmas season, traditionally the busiest time for moviegoing, could fuel repeat viewings. Cameron’s track record also looms large; he remains the only filmmaker with three movies that have crossed the $2 billion mark, including “Titanic.”
Still, there are challenges. The film’s three-hour-and-17-minute runtime limits the number of daily showtimes. Unlike “The Way of Water,” which benefited from more than a decade of pent-up demand due to repeated delays, the third installment arrives just three years after its predecessor.
“Openings are not what the ‘Avatar’ movies are about,” said David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research. “It’s what they do after they open that made them the No. 2 and No. 3 biggest films of all time. It will be several weeks before we really know how well the film is doing.”
While “Avatar: Fire and Ash” dominated the domestic box office, it wasn’t the only new release making waves. Angel Studios’ animated biblical musical “David” surprised analysts by finishing in second place with $22 million from 3,118 screens. The family-friendly film, inspired by the story of David and Goliath, earned an “A” CinemaScore and a 70% Rotten Tomatoes rating, outperforming critics’ expectations and marking Angel Studios’ best three-day debut, surpassing “Sound of Freedom.”
Lionsgate’s psychological thriller “The Housemaid” opened in third place with $19 million from 3,015 theaters. The R-rated film, starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, drew a largely female and adult audience and received a “B” CinemaScore — a common result for unsettling thrillers.
Paramount’s “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants” landed in fourth place with $16 million from 3,557 locations. While that opening is well below the franchise’s previous theatrical outings, audience reception was positive, with an “A-” CinemaScore, the highest grade in the series.
For now, “Avatar: Fire and Ash” has made a solid first impression. Whether it can once again defy expectations and dominate the box office for weeks — as its predecessors did — will become clear as the holiday season unfolds.
Tags:
News
