Avatar: Fire and Ash box office collection Day 3: James Cameron’s epic opens to $345 million worldwide

The third instalment in the Avatar franchise earned $12 million from preview screenings ahead of its Friday release in the United States.

James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash has already made a thunderous impact at the box office following its release on December 19.

According to studio estimates released on Sunday, Avatar: Fire and Ash opened to an impressive $345 million in worldwide box-office revenue, marking the second-biggest global opening of the year and potentially setting James Cameron up for yet another string of blockbuster milestones.

The third instalment in the Avatar franchise earned $12 million from preview screenings ahead of its Friday release in the United States. Prior to its US debut, the film had already collected $43 million overseas, including strong early earnings from markets such as China, where it released ahead of the rest of the world. On Friday alone, the film added $25 million from North America and $57 million from international markets.

In India, Avatar: Fire and Ash delivered a solid performance during its initial two days, earning an estimated Rs 41.25 crore in India net collections. By the end of its first weekend, the film grossed approximately Rs 66.25 crore in India. Despite these figures, the collections are considered somewhat underwhelming when compared to the franchise’s previous installments.

Sixteen years into the Avatar saga, Pandora continues to generate massive box-office returns. Fire and Ash, the third chapter in Cameron’s ambitious science-fiction universe, debuted with $88 million domestically and $257 million internationally.

The only film to register a larger global opening in 2025 so far is Zootopia 2, which earned $497.2 million over its first three days. Looking ahead, Fire and Ash is expected to benefit significantly from the lucrative holiday moviegoing period in the weeks to come.

However, this installment arrived with slightly less fanfare than its predecessor, Avatar: The Way of Water, which was released three years earlier in 2022. That film debuted with a staggering $435 million globally and $134 million in North America. In comparison, Fire and Ash saw a steep 35% drop in its domestic opening. Critical reception has also been more mixed, with the film currently holding a franchise-low 68% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Also read: Avatar Fire and Ash Box Office Collection Day 2: James Cameron's sci-fi epic sees a strong growth, nears Rs 50 Cr mark net in India

James Cameron’s original Avatar (2009) opened with $77 million domestically but maintained the top spot at the box office for seven consecutive weeks, eventually amassing a record-breaking $2.92 billion worldwide. The Way of Water also demonstrated strong staying power, ultimately earning $2.3 billion globally.

Avatar: Fire and Ash once again features Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington as the voices of the lead Na’vi characters, portraying parents who are forced to fight to protect both their family and their home planet of Pandora.