Buckle up, Avatar fans, because "Avatar: Fire and Ash" has just revved its engines past a cool $1 billion at the global box office! That's right, the third installment of this visually stunning franchise is scorching its way to success, but can it eclipse the monumental achievements of its predecessors? James Cameron's magic is still sizzling hot, but the real test will be if Disney decides this fiery adventure deserves rounds four and five!
On its third weekend romp, "Fire and Ash" snagged a hefty $40 million domestically, showing a moderate 37% dip from the previous week and bringing its total Stateside bounty to $306 million. But it’s overseas where the film is really setting the box office ablaze, gathering a whopping $777.1 million, with China leading the charge! The grand tally to date? A jaw-dropping $1.083 billion, elevating the entire Avatar franchise to over $6.35 billion worldwide! Talk about astronomical numbers!
Crafting these epic sagas doesn’t come cheap, but Cameron's Avatar series has historically raked in the dough. Avatar 1 holds the crown for the highest-grossing film in the history books (not accounting for inflation), amassing a mind-blowing $2.9 billion. Hot on its heels, "Avatar: The Way of Water" swam to an impressive $2.3 billion, making it the third-highest grosser of all time, eclipsing even Cameron's Titanic.
So, can "Fire and Ash" match up? It hit the billion-dollar mark a tad slower than its forerunners, needing 18 days versus the 14 for "The Way of Water" and 17 for the original. Yet, with a history of late surges, particularly on international fronts, the race isn't over just yet. Adding more fuel to the fire, Disney's rolling out tantalizing Avengers: Doomsday teasers ahead of showings, encouraging fans to return for an encore!
However, the burning question remains: Will "Fire and Ash" bankroll enough to light Disney’s green light for Avatars 4 and 5 ablaze? As it stands, sequels hold their release dates: December 21, 2029, for Avatar 4 and December 19, 2031, for Avatar 5. Cameron's got his sights set on expanding his legacy, but will he get the chance?
Nerve-wracking as ever, Cameron confessed pre-release jitters surrounding the box office amidst what he calls “sequelitis” and the challenges posed by more folks opting for streaming during the pandemic era. On the podcast The Town with Matthew Belloni, Cameron didn’t hold back, acknowledging the heavy financial stakes: "It is one metric f**k ton of money, which means we have to make two metric f**k tons of money to make a profit."
Only time will tell if “Fire and Ash” can stoke the flames of success long enough to ensure its blazing legacy on big screens worldwide. But one thing's for sure, the ride is far from over!