Avatar: Fire and Ash Opens at $345 Million Globally, Below Expectations

James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash earned $345 million worldwide in its opening weekend, leading U.S. box office but trailing the previous sequel’s record.

James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Fire and Ash has launched globally with a strong, though slightly underwhelming, opening weekend, raising questions about its initial performance compared to blockbuster expectations.

The film earned $88 million domestically over its opening weekend in the United States and Canada, while international markets contributed $257 million, bringing its total global debut to approximately $345 million. Although this makes it the second-largest opening worldwide in 2025, it lags behind the $435 million launch of Avatar: The Way of Water in 2022.

Analysts had projected domestic earnings between $90 million and $105 million. Factors such as the film’s three-hour-plus runtime, which limits daily screenings, and lower pent-up demand compared to the previous sequel, contributed to the softer-than-expected domestic performance. Critics also suggest that the third installment features fewer technological innovations than its predecessors, which historically attracted audiences.

Despite this, Disney confirmed that Fire and Ash topped domestic box office charts during its debut weekend. Premium formats like IMAX and 3D accounted for 66% of ticket sales, while 38% of opening weekend audiences were under 25, indicating continued appeal to younger viewers. Internationally, particularly in China, 3D screenings remain highly popular, maintaining the franchise’s global strength.

Avatar: The Way of Fire and Ash reunites stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, and Kate Winslet. The film was produced with a budget reportedly between $350 million and $400 million, alongside tens of millions in marketing costs. While it may not need to exceed the $2 billion benchmarks of earlier sequels, strong box office returns remain essential to justify its production scale.

Historically, the Avatar franchise has demonstrated that long-term box office success does not depend solely on opening weekend performance. The first Avatar in 2009 opened at $77 million but ultimately grossed $2.9 billion worldwide, while The Way of Water achieved $2.3 billion after 23 weeks in theaters.

The ultimate success of Fire and Ash will likely depend on its performance over the coming weeks, particularly during the holiday season. Looking ahead, the franchise plans to release its fourth and fifth installments in 2029 and 2031, continuing Cameron’s expansive cinematic saga.

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