Avatar 3 smashed records on its opening Friday, pulling in $125 million at the domestic box office. Fans packed theaters worldwide to dive back into Pandora’s glowing forests and fierce battles. This number beats the original Avatar’s Friday haul of $77 million back in 2009 and tops Avatar: The Way of Water’s $57.9 million from 2022. James Cameron’s latest epic arrived with huge hype after years of delays, and it delivered big time.
The movie hit screens on December 19, 2025, right in the heart of holiday season. That timing helped a lot. Families grabbed tickets during school breaks, and adults sought escape from winter chill. IMAX screenings alone raked in $32 million of that Friday total, showing how audiences crave the giant-screen thrill of those Na’vi adventures. Globally, early numbers point to over $165 million including international markets, with China leading at $28 million despite local competition.
Why so strong? Marketing played a key role. Trailers teased deeper lore on the Sully family and new ocean clans, building buzz since 2022. Social media exploded with fan theories, and tie-ins like merchandise boosted excitement. Advance ticket sales topped $100 million domestic, a sign theaters expected crowds. Compared to other blockbusters, this Friday outpaces Spider-Man: No Way Home’s $89.3 million and dwarfs recent flops like Kraven the Hunter’s weak $12 million debut.
Competition stayed light. Holdovers like Wicked and Moana 2 still draw crowds but left room for Avatar 3 to dominate. Premium formats like 3D and high-frame-rate drew premium prices, lifting averages per ticket to $14.50. Director Cameron pushed technical feats again, with underwater motion capture that wowed early reviewers. Positive word-of-mouth from previews fueled walk-ups.
Friday’s take sets up a monster weekend. Projections now eye $285 million to $325 million over three days domestic, pushing toward $2 billion worldwide fast. Pandora’s pull remains unbreakable.
Sources
https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt1757670/
https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Avatar-Fire-and-Ash-(2025)#tab=box-office
https://deadline.com/2025/12/avatar-3-friday-box-office-1236402156/
https://variety.com/2025/film/box-office/avatar-3-friday-box-office-record-1236402100/
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/avatar-3-box-office-friday-1236402000/
