The third film in the Avatar saga, directed by James Cameron, grossed US$36.5 million in around 3,800 North American theaters on Friday, December 19. The production leads the domestic box office and projects a weekend opening of between $85 million and $90 million in the US.
On the global stage, the film accumulated US$345 million in its opening weekend, including international revenues of US$257 million. Esses numbers position the film as the second biggest worldwide opening for a studio title in 2025.
- Main highlights of the premiere:
- Leadership in almost all international markets.
- Projection of repetition of the long-lasting success of previous productions.
- Revenue driven by premium 3D and IMAX sessions.
Competitors’ performance at debut
Other releases share the following positions at the North American box office. Angel Studios’s animated David came in second with $9.6 million on Friday from 3,118 theaters. Biblical production projects around US$25 million by Sunday.
Housemaid, a thriller from Lionsgate with Sydney Sweeney, occupied third place after earning US$8 million in 3,015 theaters. The film adapts Freida McFadden’s novel and is estimated to gross US$21 million over the weekend.
SpongeBob Movie: Nickelodeon animation predicts between US$ 15 million and US$ 20 million by the end of the period.
Comparison with previous films in the franchise
Avatar: Fogo and However, it falls below 2022’s Avatar: The Caminho of Água, which recorded $134 million in its opening weekend.
Both predecessors surpassed the US$2 billion mark in global revenue. The original reached US$2.92 billion and remains the biggest hit in cinema history.
The plot follows Jake Sully and Neytiri facing a new threat from a Na’vi clan associated with fire.
Continuation of Disney’s animated hits
Zootopia 2, still showing in its fourth week, added US$4 million on Friday in the US. The animated film from Disney has grossed US$272 million domestically and has already surpassed US$1 billion worldwide in just 17 days of showing.
This milestone makes Zootopia 2 the fastest animated film to reach a billion in history. Production benefits from strong performance in markets such as China.
Projections for the Christmas period
The proximity of Natal favors feature films with the potential for repeat audiences. Avatar: Fogo and Cinzas receive positive reviews from the public, with an A grade on CinemaScore.
Experts point out that the film could follow the long-legged pattern of previous sequels. The combination of advanced visual effects and premium screenings contributes to box office support.
Other highlights from the weekend
Several titles maintain their presence in the lower positions of the North American ranking. The holiday season focuses attention on family blockbusters and fantasy epics.
The Avatar franchise consolidates its position with three potential successes above US$2 billion, if the current one maintains the projected pace.
