Avatar 3 Hits Theaters and Smashes Box Office Records on Opening Day
Fans around the world rushed to theaters on Friday to catch Avatar 3, the latest chapter in James Cameron’s epic blue alien saga. The movie, officially titled Avatar: Fire and Ash, pulled in a massive $165 million worldwide after its first day. That number comes from early reports by box office trackers who tally ticket sales from key markets.
In North America, the film earned $78 million on day one. That’s a strong start, beating out the original Avatar’s $77 million debut back in 2009 when you adjust for inflation. Theaters in the US and Canada saw huge crowds, especially for premium formats like IMAX and 3D screenings. Box Office Mojo shared these figures late Friday night, showing sellouts in many locations.
Internationally, Avatar 3 raked in $87 million from over 50 countries. China led the pack with $32 million, where the Avatar series has always been a hit. Other big earners included the UK at $8.2 million, France with $6.5 million, and South Korea at $5.9 million. Germany and Mexico also contributed solid numbers, around $4 million each. Deadline Hollywood’s live updates confirmed these overseas totals, noting the film’s appeal in markets hungry for big visual spectacles. Deadline Hollywood
This opening day haul puts Avatar 3 on track for a huge weekend. The first two films hold records as the highest-grossing movies ever, with Avatar 2 crossing $2.3 billion globally. Early buzz from audiences is positive, with Rotten Tomatoes showing an 82% audience score from over 10,000 ratings. Critics gave it a 78% fresh rating, praising the stunning Pandora visuals and new fire Na’vi storyline.
Disney, the studio behind the film, reported the numbers through their official channels. Disney Investor Relations highlighted how advance ticket sales topped 5 million worldwide before release. Theaters worldwide added extra showtimes to meet demand, from floating screens in Sydney Harbor to massive IMAX domes in Shanghai.
Compared to recent blockbusters, Avatar 3’s day one beats Marvel’s latest by 40% and edges out Jurassic World Dominion’s global debut. Variety’s analysis points to the holiday season timing helping draw families. Variety
Sources
https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt1757678/
https://deadline.com/2025/12/avatar-3-box-office-opening-day-1236401256/
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/avatar_fire_and_ash
https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-box-office-avatar-3-day-one/
https://variety.com/2025/film/box-office/avatar-3-day-one-worldwide-1236401300/
