The highly anticipated James Cameron Avatar: Fire and Ash delivered an opening day of $36.5 million, putting the sci-fi epic on track for a domestic debut in the $85-$95 million range. Friday’s haul included more than $11 million in previews.
Overseas, where it began opening in select markets midweek, the 20th Century and Disney tentpole has already grossed $100 million, including a bumper $17 million opening day in China. The film gets good audience scores – including an A CinemaScore, in line with the previous two films – despite its length of over three and a quarter hours.
Avatar: The Way of Water opened to over $134 million in 2022, but there was huge pent-up demand, given the first Avatar debuted in 2009. Additionally, Waterway had a full nine days of gameplay before the Christmas break, while Fire and ashes has six days, the theory being that some audiences will wait until the holidays to see the film.
The first Avatar was nearly lambasted when it opened to $77 million in 2009, but the angst quickly ended as the film gained momentum to become the highest-grossing film of all time at the worldwide box office with an incredible $2.97 billion, not adjusted for inflation. It still holds that honor, followed by Marvel’s.: Avengers: Endgame and two other Cameron titles, Waterway And Titanic.
Avatar: Fire and Ash isn’t the only film taking an early seat at this year’s holiday feast.
Paramount’s family picture will also open nationwide during the weekend of December 19-21. The SpongeBob Movie: Finding SquarePantswhich is shaping up to be a low-key mid-teen debut, and Lionsgate’s R-rated thriller The cleaning ladywith Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney. The film, a throwback to the 1990s, will be a key test for Sweeney after his Oscar failure, Christieand is hoping for a launch of between $20 million and $25 million after earning $2.2 million in previews. Angel Studios’ Faith-Based Animated Feature Film David is also in the $20-25 million range and currently appears to hold a lead over Maidbased on Friday morning traffic. It would also be the best opening ever for Angel Studios, home of The sound of freedom.
Another batch of films opens on Christmas Day, including this one from Sony Anaconda reboot (no one really knows where it will land.) On the prestige side, Oscar contenders Marty Supremewith Timothée Chalamet, and Hugh Jackman/Kate Hudson starring Song sung in blue also open nationwide
This story was originally published on December 19 at 10:21 a.m.
