James Cameron has been pretty vocal about how much Avatar: The Way of Water would need to make at the worldwide box-office in order to break-even, and his 13-years in the making sequel is off to a great start by causing a $435 million splash at cinemas around the globe.
Unveiled in over 52 international markets, including an increasingly rare outing for a Hollywood product in the lucrative Chinese territory, Avatar: The Way of Water launched with the second largest global haul of 2022, just behind Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ $442 million debut.
The real test of The Way of Water‘s success will be in how it plays over the coming weeks. The first film opened with $77 million back in 2009, but then remained atop the box-office for weeks on end, with repeat visits and word-of-mouth pushing it towards the title of the biggest grossing film of all time ($2.9 billion). With no real blockbuster competition between now and February’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, there should be no reason for Disney and 20th Century Studios to start feeling blue about any perceived underperformance.
At the U.S. box-office The Way of Water opened below expectations with $134 million, and its much ballyhooed China opening also fell short of predictions, earning around $57 million by close-of-play Sunday. However, this can be attributed to the ongoing Covid-related restrictions in the country, a territory where the original film ended up making $200 million.
SEE ALSO: Read our Avatar: The Way of Water review here
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Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, “Avatar: The Way of Water” begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure.
Avatar: The Way of Water is directed by James Cameron and sees Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Matt Gerald, Dileep Rao, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, and Sigourney Weaver all reprising their roles from the 2009 blockbuster, while new additions to the cast include Kate Winslet, Oona Chaplin, Cliff Curtis, Britain Dalton, Filip Geljo, Jamie Flatters, Bailey Bass, Trinity Bliss, Jack Champion, Duane Evans Jr., Edie Falco, Brendan Cowell, Michelle Yeoh, Jemaine Clement, Keston John, and CJ Jones.
Avatar: The Way of Water is in cinemas everywhere now.
