Avatar: Fire and Ash Box Office Opens to $345M Worldwide

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Opens to $345M Worldwide, Fueled by Strong International Push

Avatar: Fire and Ash has made a powerful debut at the global box office, collecting $345 million worldwide in its opening weekend. Of that total, $88 million came from domestic markets, while international territories contributed $257 million, once again underscoring the franchise’s global appeal.

The numbers position the film as one of the biggest launches of 2025 so far, even if it stops short of the franchise’s previous highs.

Box Office Breakdown and Franchise Context

International markets did the heavy lifting, with China leading overseas territories at $57.6 million. Premium formats played a major role in the film’s performance, as 3D and large-format screenings accounted for 66% of ticket sales, continuing a trend the Avatar series has relied on for more than a decade.

While the opening trails the massive $435 million global start of Avatar: The Way of Water, it still outperforms the original Avatar in North America. Fire and Ash earned $88 million domestically, topping the first film’s $77 million debut, though remaining well below The Way of Water’s $134 million domestic launch.

In the broader studio landscape, the film now stands as the second-highest studio opening of 2025, behind only Zootopia 2, which debuted to $497 million worldwide.

Critically, Avatar: Fire and Ash received a more divided response than earlier entries. The film landed a 68–70% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the lowest in the franchise to date, with a Metacritic score of 61. Critics largely praised its visual scale, action, and technical craftsmanship, while pointing to familiar story beats and narrative repetition as weaknesses.

Audiences, however, were far more enthusiastic. The film scored a 91% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earned an “A” CinemaScore, suggesting strong word-of-mouth potential in the weeks ahead.

That contrast may prove decisive. Historically, the Avatar films have been known less for explosive openings and more for long, steady box-office runs. Whether Fire and Ash follows that same trajectory will become clearer as its second weekend unfolds — but early signs suggest the franchise’s global pull remains firmly intact.