Avatar Fire and Ash, the third installment in James Cameron’s long-running sci-fi franchise, officially premiered in theaters on December 19, 2025, opening to solid but clearly reduced box office numbers compared to its predecessor. Early indicators suggest that while the film remains a major global draw, its performance is trending below industry projections initially set by Avatar The Way of Water three years ago.
In the United States, Avatar Fire and Ash opened Friday with 36.5 million dollars, a figure that includes 12 million dollars from Thursday previews. This marked the eighth biggest December opening day ever, though it still landed slightly below The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey, which posted a 37.1 million dollar opening day. By comparison, Avatar The Way of Water debuted with 53.2 million dollars on its opening Friday, placing Fire and Ash down roughly 31 percent at the same stage.
Current projections estimate a domestic three day opening weekend between 85 million and 90 million dollars. That total would narrowly surpass The Hobbit’s 84.6 million dollar December opening weekend, positioning Fire and Ash as the seventh biggest December debut on record. Even so, it would remain significantly lower than The Way of Water’s 134.1 million dollar domestic opening, representing an estimated 33 percent drop between the second and third chapters.
Overseas, Avatar Fire and Ash crossed the 100 million dollar mark on Friday, accumulating 100.4 million dollars across 53 international markets. Top territories include China at 17.2 million dollars, France with 8.7 million dollars, Germany at 8.3 million dollars, and South Korea at 5.4 million dollars. Combined with its US opening, the film reached a global total of 136.9 million dollars by the end of Friday.
China has emerged as a key market to watch. The film remained number one on Saturday with 24.1 million dollars, a 40.1 percent increase from Friday, reaching a two day total of 41.3 million dollars. Projections place its three day Chinese opening between 57 million and 60 million dollars, potentially ranking among the biggest post-COVID Hollywood openings in the territory, despite competition from Zootopia 2.
Globally, Avatar Fire and Ash is currently eyeing a worldwide opening between 325 million and 355 million dollars, compared to The Way of Water’s massive 441.6 million dollar launch. Audience reception remains strong, with an A CinemaScore, 4.5 PostTrak rating, and a 91 percent Rotten Tomatoes audience score. Premium formats accounted for 38 percent of ticket sales, with a 58 percent to 42 percent split between 3D and 2D screenings.
The film’s lower opening is attributed to a combination of heavier competition and emerging franchise fatigue. Still, with strong international interest and positive audience feedback, Avatar Fire and Ash has secured a stable, if more restrained, start at the global box office.
