Before the end of the year, the sequel is expected to reach the coveted $1 billion mark.
Avatar, James Cameron’s eagerly anticipated sequel, was released on December 15. The Way of the Water has been a formidable adversary. It set the vibe for its film industry presence by conveying an amazing $435 million opening end of the week at the worldwide film industry. The movie was also expected to dominate the Christmas box office during its initial theatrical run, according to early predictions. Variety reports that The Way of Water has crossed the $855.4 million mark at the global box office.
Avatar: Locally In its second weekend, The Way of Water earned $56 million from 4,202 theaters. Extreme weather affected moviegoers’ attendance over the Christmas holiday, which hurt the movie’s domestic box office. Its return of $56 million is 58% lower than its domestic debut performance. In contrast, the other highly anticipated sequel of this year, Black Panther: The second weekend of Wakanda Forever, which is still playing in theaters, saw a 63% decline at the domestic box office. According to current predictions, Avatar: The Method of Water will hit $82 million through Monday, for its second-end of the week count, which will carry its homegrown complete to $278 million.
The Way of Water has made $601 million worldwide. Even though reaching $600 million is a significant milestone for any movie, the sequel hasn’t done as well as expected since getting the much-coveted and frequently impossible Chinese release. China is currently experiencing a new wave of COVID cases, which has resulted in theater closures and, consequently, lower attendance, significantly affecting the substantial haul that Avatar 2 was anticipated to make in the Chinese market. However, its global gross of $855.4 million makes it the fifth highest-grossing film of 2022, so it isn’t doing too badly for itself. It is likewise expected to cross the $1 billion imprint before the year’s over. It would join the ranks of Top Gun with that accomplishment: Jurassic World and Maverick: Dominion, the only other two movies this year that have made more than $1 billion.
The 13-year-old sequel faces a daunting task given that its iconic predecessor, Avatar, released in 2009, is currently the highest-grossing film of all time with over $2.9 billion in box office receipts. To be considered a success, The Way of Water needs to come close to Avatar’s lifetime total; To break even, according to Cameron, it must “be the third or fourth highest-grossing film in history.” It’s important to note that multiple re-releases helped Avatar reach its record-breaking $2.9 billion box office total over the years, including one earlier this year.
Avatar: Zoe Saldaa, Stephen Lang, Joel David Moore, and Sigourney Weaver all made exciting returns to Pandora in The Way of Water, as did Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Edie Falco, CCH Pounder, Jermaine Clement, Britain Dalton, James Flatters, Bailey Bass, and Jack Champion. The big anticipation for the sequel was raised by the star-studded event and Cameron’s return to the director’s chair. It is safe to say that The Way of Water delivered on its promise of spectacle and box office dominance, given its haul and favorable reviews.
Avatar: In theaters right now is The Way of Water. The following is an interview that Collider conducted with Worthington, Lang, and producer Jon Landau: