Avatar Fire and Ash officially arrived in theaters on December 19, 2025, and early box office results indicate a strong global launch, even as performance varies notably by region. The third installment in James Cameron’s long-running science fiction series has generated approximately 79 million overseas on Saturday alone, bringing its international cumulative total to around 179 million. Overall, the film is tracking roughly 23 percent behind Avatar: The Way of Water at the same point in its release cycle, with the largest shortfall coming from Asian markets.
Despite that regional softness, Europe has emerged as a major bright spot. While not reaching the historic levels of Avatar 2, which was described as an all-time performer in the region, European results have been characterized as superb. Combined worldwide totals are expected to approach 250 million by the end of the opening weekend, suggesting continued momentum as the holiday period begins.
China has delivered particularly noteworthy results. Avatar Fire and Ash earned 117 million yuan, or approximately 16.5 million, on Sunday, contributing to a 405 million yuan weekend total, equivalent to about 57.5 million. While Saturday performance was strong, Sunday attendance did not accelerate at the same pace, resulting in a reported 30.7 percent drop from Saturday. Even so, the film remained number one in China on Sunday, grossing 16.7 million across roughly 146,000 screenings, down 9,000 from the previous day. Solid walk-up sales were reported, with 62 percent of Saturday tickets purchased during the day rather than through pre-sales.
That weekend total places Avatar Fire and Ash as the fourth biggest three-day post-COVID opening weekend for a Hollywood release in China, narrowly surpassing Avatar The Way of Water’s 57.1 million. It trails only Fast X, Godzilla vs Kong, F9, and Zootopia 2 in that ranking. Pre-sales for Monday have reached 1.1 million, with the film scheduled to play on more than 125,000 screens, down 21,000 from Sunday. Long-term projections suggest the film could reach 1 billion yuan, or more than 140 million, in China.
In North America, the film is heading toward an estimated 27 to 29 million on Saturday, representing a drop of about 24 percent from its full opening day Friday. The domestic opening weekend is expected to land in the vicinity of 87 million.
Narratively, Fire and Ash continues shortly after the events of The Way of Water, focusing on Jake Sully and Neytiri as they confront grief following the death of their son Neteyam. The film introduces the Ash People, a volcanic Na’vi clan led by Varang, whose rejection of Eywa and alliance with the RDA creates a darker ideological conflict. At 197 minutes, the film remains an exclusive theatrical release, with a digital and Disney Plus debut expected in mid-2026.
