Pandora hasn’t just returned — it’s announced itself loudly. James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash has delivered one of the biggest global openings of the year, proving once again that the Na’vi play the long game at the box office.
A massive global debut right out of the gate
Avatar: Fire and Ash has stormed into cinemas with a $345 million worldwide opening, including a dominant $257 million from international markets. That makes it the second-highest studio opening globally in 2025, trailing only Disney’s Zootopia 2.
With this launch, the Avatar franchise has now crossed $5.6 billion worldwide across its three films — an extraordinary milestone that reinforces Cameron’s unmatched pull in global theatrical markets.
Importantly, both the worldwide and international numbers landed within pre-weekend trade projections, setting the stage for a strong holiday run rather than a front-loaded spike.
Pandora’s slow-burn strategy still working
As seen with previous Avatar releases, Fire and Ash isn’t designed to peak on Day 1. Trade analysts note that the film had a shorter runway before Christmas and New Year holidays compared to The Way of Water, yet early signs remain highly encouraging.
Social scores are strong across regions, premium formats are driving ticket sales, and industry watchers expect the film to “leg out” steadily through the festive period.
Dominates international markets across continents
Fire and Ash opened at No. 1 in nearly every major overseas market, with Japan being the lone exception where Zootopia 2 continues to rule.
Key international highlights:
- China: $57.6M opening weekend — the biggest launch ever for an Avatar film in the market
- Europe: $109.4M opening weekend, topping charts across all territories
- Asia-Pacific (excluding China): $60.1M, with standout performances in Korea, Vietnam, and Indonesia
The film also delivered the biggest studio opening of 2025 in markets like France, Germany, Spain, and Korea.
Top 5 markets so far:
- China – $57.6M
- France – $21.4M
- Germany – $18M
- Korea – $13.6M
- UK – $11.9M
All offshore territories have launched except Hong Kong, which joins the rollout on January 8.
IMAX goes supernova
Fire and Ash also delivered a staggering $43.6 million global IMAX opening, marking:
- IMAX’s biggest opening of 2025
- The fifth-largest IMAX debut of all time
- The widest IMAX release ever, spanning 1,703 screens worldwide
Several countries — including France, Germany, Thailand, Indonesia, and Turkey — posted their biggest IMAX opening weekends ever.
Zootopia 2 keeps Disney flying high
Meanwhile, Zootopia 2 continues its phenomenal run, edging closer to the $1 billion international milestone. After four weekends, the animated juggernaut stands at $1.27 billion globally, with $990 million coming from overseas markets.
The film is now:
- The No. 1 Hollywood international release of 2025
- The No. 2 MPA animated international release of all time
- The fifth-highest animated studio release worldwide
With these results, Disney’s total global box office for 2025 has reached $5.82 billion, with the $6B mark expected within days.
Other notable box office movers
- Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 has crossed $200M globally, with Japan still to open
- Wicked: For Good stands at $484.2M worldwide
- Now You See Me: Now You Don’t has reached $221.4M globally
Final Words
Avatar: Fire and Ash may not be chasing instant fireworks — but its $345M global opening proves the franchise’s enduring power. With premium formats firing, strong word-of-mouth, and the holiday corridor ahead, Pandora’s latest chapter looks set for a long, lucrative run rather than a quick burn.
