After being in theaters for simply over a month, Avatar: The Means of Water—the long-awaited sequel to James Cameron’s 2009 hit—has formally grossed over $2.024 billion. It took over Spider-Man: No Means Dwelling’s spot because the sixth highest-grossing film of all time final week; to maneuver as much as the No. 5 spot, at present held by Avengers: Infinity Conflict, it must make over $2.05 billion. Now it has develop into the primary ever pandemic-era film to hit the $2 billion mark and Cameron’s third film to gross that a lot in field workplace receipts. He’s the one director in historical past to have three films gross over $2 billion.
After 13 years within the making, all eyes had been on the Avatar sequel to see if it could make its price range again and switch a revenue for Disney. (Disney spent a reported $460 million to create and promote the film, in accordance with Selection.) Because the starting of the COVID-19 pandemic, the field workplace has skilled main struggles, inflicting widespread concern and even bankruptcies within the theater trade. Then final 12 months’s High Gun: Maverick appeared to re-energize moviegoers, proving that the theater trade was removed from useless. The Tom Cruise-led movie grossed over $1.489 billion in 2022 and appeared to be the uncontested, virtually sole motive for movie-going’s resurgence—that was, till Avatar: The Means of Water swept in to make $1.5 billion on the finish of 2022 and take its spot as the very best grossing film of final 12 months.
Now, because the film reaches one more milestone, the query turns into: How a lot cash can it make earlier than it loses steam? Right here’s a breakdown of how and the place the film made its cash, the place it falls within the all-time field workplace, and the way it speaks, but once more, to Cameron’s potential to make a riveting sequel that will get folks again in theaters.
Why the magic quantity was $2 billion
Two billion {dollars} was the quantity Cameron put ahead throughout an interview with GQ late final 12 months. When discussing the monster price range for the film, he mentioned to interrupt even, the film wanted to “be the third or fourth highest-grossing film in historical past,” which might put it within the $2 billion vary. Not a straightforward feat, however with the unique Avatar—the top-grossing film of all time—grossing simply shy of $3 billion and Cameron’s Titanic, two spots behind it, making $2.2 billion, it didn’t appear out of attain for the director to achieve that bold threshold.
The place did Avatar 2 take advantage of cash?
The thrill surrounding the Avatar sequel nonetheless appears to be going sturdy, because the film soared into 2023 at high of the worldwide field workplace. As of Sunday, the home field workplace accounts for $598 million, whereas the film has amassed over $1.42 billion on the worldwide field workplace. In keeping with Selection, the film shouldn’t be enjoying in Russia, the place the primary Avatar film revamped $100 million. Outdoors of the U.S., The Means of Water is performing finest in China, the place it grossed $229.7 million; France ($129.8 million); Germany ($117 million); South Korea ($96.9 million); and the UK ($81.9 million).
What bought folks again into theaters
It’s been 13 years for the reason that first Avatar was launched, leaving audiences to surprise if the second film would justify its lengthy highway to theaters. That curiosity performed into the success of the sequel, along with pleasure over the superior movement capturing Cameron used. The revolutionary know-how had been used within the first movie, and since the second film centered on characters that resided in and close to the water, the know-how needed to be tailored for use underwater—a significant component in delays.
Success following opening weekend was bolstered by largely constructive critiques (77% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, 92% from audiences), even when the critiques praised the movie’s visuals over its plot. Throughout its opening weekend, a big share of individuals considered the film in 3D. In keeping with CNBC, 61% of the tickets offered on the Thursday night time viewing had been 3D within the U.S., and that quantity was even increased in Europe, at 71% for 3D and premium showings.
Though sequels should not all the time fashionable, Cameron has been profitable at getting folks again into the theaters and has a knack for judging viewers demand for a sequel. He sensed that the large success of Titanic was a one-movie deal, however Terminator’s sequel was almost as profitable as the unique movie. He has already introduced that Avatar 3 is within the can (it was filmed similtaneously The Means of Water) and that he has 4 extra installments able to be made. The judgment name to launch the third film trusted the success of the second film, which appears to show there may be nonetheless loads of curiosity on this planet of the Na’vi and Pandora.