Avatar 3, officially titled *Avatar: Fire and Ash*, is predicted to have a very strong box office opening when it releases on December 19, 2025. Industry forecasts suggest that the film could earn between **$135 million and $165 million** in North America during its opening weekend. This would mark the biggest opening in the *Avatar* franchise to date, surpassing the first film’s $77 million debut in 2009 and the second film’s $134.1 million opening in 2022[1][2].
The high expectations for *Avatar: Fire and Ash* come from the franchise’s proven track record. The original *Avatar* remains the highest-grossing movie of all time with $2.9 billion worldwide, and its sequel, *Avatar: The Way of Water*, earned $2.3 billion globally. The third film continues the story one year after the events of the second, focusing on Jake and Neytiri’s family dealing with new threats on Pandora, including a hostile Na’vi tribe called the Ash People[1][3].
Some analysts predict a slightly more conservative opening, around $100 to $115 million domestically, citing increased competition from other holiday releases and the shorter gap between the second and third films compared to the long wait before the first sequel. However, the film is expected to have a strong box office run over the holiday season and into the new year, which could boost its total earnings significantly[4][5].
The release timing during the Christmas period, a traditionally lucrative box office window, and the franchise’s loyal fan base contribute to the optimistic projections. The film’s performance will also be seen as a key indicator of the health of the 2025 box office landscape, which has seen mixed results for other major releases this year[3].
Sources
https://www.koimoi.com/box-office/avatar-fire-and-ash-north-america-box-office-projection-eyeing-a-strong-130m-debut-the-biggest-in-james-camerons-franchise/
https://www.boxofficepro.com/long-range-forecast-avatar-fire-and-ash-tracking-to-exceed-the-way-of-waters-134m-opening/
https://screenrant.com/2025-box-office-challenge-avatar-fire-and-ash/
https://toddmthatcher.com/2025/12/10/avatar-fire-and-ash-box-office-prediction/
https://boxofficetheory.com/6-week-box-office-tracking-forecasts-avatar-fire-and-ash-95m-updates-early-forecasts-for-28-years-later-the-bone-temple-greenland-2-primate-and-soulm8te/
