James Cameron’s return to Pandora has met high expectations, as Avatar: Fire and Ash ignited the global box office with a massive $345 million opening weekend. While securing the title of the third-largest debut of 2025, it didn’t quite reach the heights of its predecessor, The Way of Water, which launched with $441.7 million in 2022. It also trails significantly behind Disney’s other recent powerhouse, Zootopia 2, which set a blistering record with a $556.4 million opening.
While the film remains an international juggernaut, domestic interest in the U.S. was notably more reserved. An $88 million North American opening placed it ninth for the year, lagging behind hits like A Minecraft Movie ($162.8M), Wicked: For Good ($147M), and Superman ($125M). It even narrowly missed the mark set by Captain America: Brave New World, which pulled in $88.8 million.
Despite the muted domestic response, Fire and Ash is thriving overseas. Alongside Zootopia 2, it signals a renewed appetite for Hollywood blockbusters in China, where the film earned $57.6 million. European audiences also showed strong support, contributing an impressive $109.4 million to the opening weekend tally.
This reliance on international markets is a hallmark of the Avatar franchise. Historically, Cameron’s sci-fi epics draw more than 70% of their total revenue from outside the U.S.—a trend that pushed the first two installments into the top three highest-grossing movies of all time. This stands in stark contrast to films like the Wicked series, which rely on domestic ticket sales for over 60% of their earnings.
As industry analysts at Deadline observe, Avatar films are built for endurance rather than just a front-loaded sprint. Their reputation as “must-see” visual spectacles on the largest screens, combined with a strategic late-December release, typically ensures steady ticket sales throughout the holiday season and deep into January.
There is little doubt that Fire and Ash will eventually eclipse the $1 billion milestone. The real question remaining for James Cameron is whether this third chapter has the momentum required to join its predecessors in the exclusive $2 billion club.
Source: Polygon
