The first major box office weekend of the new year is shaping up to be a strong one, led — unsurprisingly — by James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash. As holiday audiences continue to pour into theatres, multiple films are posting impressive holds, proving that momentum hasn’t cooled off yet.
Avatar: Fire and Ash targets massive milestones
Avatar: Fire and Ash is cruising toward two major benchmarks at once. The sci-fi epic is expected to earn around $35 million in its third weekend across 3,835 North American theaters, marking a 44% drop. After a $13.4 million Friday, the film’s domestic total should cross $300 million, landing near $301 million by Sunday.
Globally, the film is also on the verge of joining the $1 billion worldwide club, reinforcing Cameron’s reputation for long-haul box office dominance rather than front-loaded spikes.
For comparison, Avatar: The Way of Water delivered a massive $67.4 million third weekend during the New Year frame, while the original Avatar earned $68.4 million in its third weekend back in 2010. While Fire and Ash is slightly lower, it’s holding firm in a far more competitive theatrical environment.
Holiday effect still powering theaters
The holiday boost remains a major factor. Nearly all schools and colleges were on break heading into the weekend, and even as classes resume, college attendance remains high — a strong sign for weekday business.
Zootopia 2 keeps winning quietly
Disney’s Zootopia 2 continues its excellent run, pulling in an estimated $17 million in its sixth weekend, a remarkably soft 14% drop. By Sunday, the animated sequel’s domestic total is expected to reach $361.6 million.
Interestingly, its sixth weekend outperformed Moana 2’s comparable frame from last year, highlighting just how well Zootopia 2 is playing with families and repeat audiences.
The Housemaid emerges as a sleeper hit
Lionsgate’s thriller The Housemaid, starring Amanda Seyfried and directed by Paul Feig, is firmly holding third place. The film is eyeing $12 million-plus in its second weekend, down just 22%, after a $4.6 million Friday.
Its domestic total should hit $72.8 million by Sunday, comfortably surpassing Feig’s earlier Lionsgate success A Simple Favor.
Marty Supreme makes A24 history
A24’s Marty Supreme, directed by Josh Safdie, is on track for a notable milestone. The film is expected to earn between $9–10 million in its third weekend at 2,887 locations, following a $4 million Friday.
By Sunday, its domestic total could reach $53.4 million, officially surpassing Uncut Gems and becoming one of A24’s highest-grossing films ever in North America.
Rest of the top 10: steady business across genres
- Sony’s Anaconda is heading for $8 million in its second weekend, bringing its total to $43.8 million.
- Angel Studios’ David continues its faith-based run with $7.4 million in weekend three, pushing its cume to $69.4 million.
- Paramount’s SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants is adding $7.2 million in its third weekend, lifting its total to $56.6 million.
- Focus Features’ Song Sung Blue, starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, is expected to earn $4.7 million in its second weekend, with a domestic total of $23.8 million so far.
Final Words
From Avatar: Fire and Ash marching toward billion-dollar glory to smaller films carving out impressive long runs, this weekend’s box office shows one thing clearly: 2026 has started with strong theatrical energy. With holidays still helping footfalls and diverse genres finding space, the early signs point to a healthy and competitive year ahead.
