Avatar: Fire and Ash is gearing up for a monstrous box office launch — reportedly equal to the total earnings of last year’s entire Top 10 movies from the same weekend.
James Cameron’s highly anticipated third entry in the Avatar franchise is arriving this Christmas, and excitement is already through the roof. With more than a month still to go, early long-range projections are out, and the numbers look enormous. If the current tracking holds, Avatar: Fire and Ash could become the biggest opening in franchise history.
Star-Studded Cast Returns
Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, and Kate Winslet all return for the third installment. Two additional sequels are also in the works.
The franchise began in 2009 with Avatar, which became a global sensation and still sits among the top three highest-grossing films ever made — along with its sequel, The Way of Water.
Avatar 3: Early Box Office Forecast
According to Box Office Pro, Avatar: Fire and Ash is projected to earn $135 million to $165 million during its opening weekend in North America.
To put that into perspective, this projected debut is nearly equal to the total box office revenue generated by the Top 10 films combined during the same weekend last year — about $140 million.
How Does It Compare to Previous Avatar Films?
It’s tracking to become the biggest opening weekend of the entire franchise:
- Avatar (2009) – $77 million opening weekend
- Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) – $134.1 million opening weekend
- Avatar: Fire and Ash (2024 projection) – $135M to $165M
One major factor boosting the numbers is the expansion of premium screens worldwide — increasing from 7,550 in 2023 to nearly 8,000 in 2024. Premium screens mean higher ticket prices, which leads to a stronger box office haul.
What Is Avatar 3 About?
The film picks up one year after Jake and Neytiri have settled with the Metkayina Clan. Their family is still grieving Neteyam’s death when they encounter a fierce new Na’vi tribe known as The Ash People. Their leader, Varang, has allied herself with Jake’s long-time enemy, Quaritch — pushing Pandora toward its most explosive conflict yet.
Avatar: Fire and Ash hits theaters December 19.
