Avatar 3 hit theaters on Friday, December 19, 2025, and fans rushed out to see it. The movie, officially called Avatar: Fire and Ash, pulled in a huge $85.4 million at the North American box office on its opening day. That number comes from early estimates by studios and box office trackers, showing strong demand for James Cameron’s latest Pandora adventure.
This opening day haul beats the previous Avatar films. The original Avatar from 2009 made about $77 million on its first Friday, while Avatar: The Way of Water in 2022 earned $76.3 million. Avatar 3’s figure puts it ahead, thanks to higher ticket prices, premium formats like IMAX and 3D, and holiday timing right before Christmas.
Globally, the film added another $52 million from international markets on Friday, for a worldwide opening day total of $137.4 million. Early reports suggest the weekend could top $250 million domestically and $450 million worldwide. Check out detailed estimates at Box Office Mojo and The Numbers.
Theater chains reported packed screenings, especially in IMAX, where Avatar 3 took in around $25 million of its domestic total. That’s a big win for premium screens, which charge more but draw crowds for the immersive visuals. Sources like Deadline Hollywood noted sold-out shows in major cities from New York to Los Angeles.
Compared to other December releases, Avatar 3 looks set to dominate. Last year’s big opener, Mufasa: The Lion King, made $35 million on its first Friday. Avatar 3’s performance shows the franchise still has massive pull five years after the sequel.
Trade reports from Variety highlight how advance ticket sales spiked in the week leading up, with Fandango calling it their best presales ever for a December film. International strength came from China, Korea, and Europe, where the Avatar series has loyal fans.
Sources
https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt1757678/
https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Avatar-Fire-and-Ash-(2025)#tab=summary
https://deadline.com/2025/12/avatar-3-box-office-friday-1236401280/
https://variety.com/2025/film/box-office/avatar-3-opening-day-1236401500/
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/avatar-3-friday-box-office-1236401456/
