Avatar: Fire and Ash Sets the Box Office Ablaze With a $345 Million Global Premiere

James Cameron’s epic threequel reignites the global box office, signaling renewed theatrical momentum as Hollywood closes the year on a high.

James Cameron has done it again. With Avatar: Fire and Ash, the visionary filmmaker proves that Pandora still holds unparalleled cinematic power, delivering a scorching $345 million global opening weekend, according to Comscore. The fantasy threequel not only dominates the worldwide box office but also marks a pivotal moment for theaters after a year marked by uneven releases and a sluggish summer season.

Domestically, Fire and Ash opened to a robust $88 million, a figure that—while lower than 2022’s Avatar: The Way of Water debut of $134 million—surpasses the original Avatar’s $77 million opening back in 2009. As with its predecessors, the film launched just ahead of Christmas, a strategic window that has historically allowed the franchise to demonstrate extraordinary staying power well into the new year.

A Franchise That Redefined Blockbuster Economics

With the release of Fire and Ash, the Avatar franchise has now amassed more than $5.6 billion globally, cementing its status as one of the most profitable and influential film series in cinema history. While its opening weekend didn’t surpass the staggering premieres of Zootopia 2 ($556 million) or China’s animated phenomenon Ne Zha 2 ($431 million), Cameron’s latest epic reinforces the franchise’s unique strength: longevity.

Historically, Avatar films are not built for short sprints—they’re marathon runners. Industry watchers expect Fire and Ash to follow a similar trajectory, accumulating hundreds of millions more as audiences return for repeat viewings and international markets continue to ignite.

A Revitalized Box Office Landscape

Perhaps just as significant as Fire and Ash’s success is what it represents for the broader theatrical ecosystem. Its debut marks the fifth major box office surge in as many weeks, following strong performances from Wicked: For Good, Zootopia 2, and Five Nights at Freddy’s 2. Together, those films have already generated over $700 million globally, signaling a meaningful rebound for theaters after months of uncertainty.

This renewed momentum suggests that audiences are once again prioritizing the big-screen experience—particularly for spectacle-driven, event-level films.

New Releases Make Their Mark

Beyond Cameron’s juggernaut, several new releases found notable success over the weekend:

• Angel Studios’ animated musical David debuted to an impressive $22 million domestically, securing second place on U.S. charts. The PG-rated retelling of David and Goliath also ranked third internationally, despite opening in just two additional territories: Canada and Australia. The performance further establishes Angel Studios as a rising force in family-friendly and faith-based cinema.
• Lionsgate’s erotic thriller The Housemaid, starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, surprised analysts with a $19 million opening across just over 3,000 theaters. The adaptation of Freida McFadden’s bestseller delivered a strong per-theater average of $6,032, signaling solid word-of-mouth potential.
• Rounding out the top four was The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, which earned $16 million domestically. Featuring voice performances from George Lopez, Mark Hamill, and Ice Spice, the animated feature proved the enduring appeal of the beloved undersea franchise.

Looking Ahead: A Calmer Weekend, New Possibilities

For the first time in over a month, the upcoming weekend doesn’t feature an obvious breakout hit. While heavyweights like Avatar, Wicked, and Zootopia were near-certainties, the absence of a guaranteed juggernaut leaves room for surprises.

One potential dark horse is Song Sung Blue, directed by Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow, Coming 2 America), starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson as a married couple who perform in a Neil Diamond tribute band. Describing the film, Brewer calls it a deeply human love story—one that moves beyond romance into the realities of shared lives, heartbreak, and resilience.

As Fire and Ash continues its global run, one thing is clear: James Cameron hasn’t just delivered another blockbuster—he’s helped reignite faith in the cinematic experience itself. And as Hollywood heads into the new year, Pandora once again stands at the center of the box office universe.