Avatar’s sequel, The Way Of Water, will cross the $1billion mark on Tuesday night, which is just 13 days after its global release.
Deadline reported on Tuesday morning that the movie already made over $900million over Christmas weekend.
And the film picked up even more steam on Monday, also known as Boxing Day, which several people had off from work as Christmas fell on a Sunday this year.
Big money: Avatar’s sequel, The Way of Water, will cross the $1billion mark on Tuesday just 13 days after its global release
They made the movie a hit: (L-R) Kate Winslet, Sigourney Weaver, James Cameron, Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington on December 4 in London
The movie claimed the top spot for the second straight week in a row with $19.5 million grossed over the holiday weekend.
Despite a frigid winter storm across the United States knocking out power at some theaters and shut down highways, the highly-awaited science fiction epic managed to cross the cross the $700 million mark worldwide, according to The Wrap.
The sequel garnered $434.5million at the box office during its global debut.
Going strong: Deadline reported on Tuesday morning that the movie already made over $900million over Christmas weekend
Avatar’s director James Cameron said the film, which tied with The Batman as the fourth highest domestic debut of the year needs to earn $2 billion to break even.
The original Avatar didn’t have a monstrous opening weekend, opening in mid-December 2009 to $77 million though it ultimately grossed a then-record $749.7 million domestic and a still-record $2.7 billion (which has since grown to $785.2 million domestic and $2.9 billion global with re-releases).
Some box office analysts predicted that Avatar: The Way of Water could be just the fourth December release to cross the $200 million opening weekend threshold.
Good news: And the film picked up even more steam on Monday, also known as Boxing Day, which several people had off from work as Christmas fell on a Sunday this year
The only three films to accomplish that feat were Marvel’s 2021 blockbuster Spider-Man: No Way Home and two of the three Star Wars sequels – 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($248 million) and 2017’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi ($220 million).
The original Avatar’s road to box office history was an unusual one, with most top-grossing films accomplishing this with top-loaded massive opening weekends.
Back in 2009, the opening weekend box office record was held by The Dark Knight, which opened to $158.4 million in mid-July 2008, topping out at $533.3 million domestic and just over $1 billion worldwide.
Avatar’s success was largely due to consistent viewings at a level rarely seen at the box office, which allowed it to maintain the top spot for eight weeks in a row.
Huge budget: Avatar’s director James Cameron said the film needs to earn $2 billion to break even; seen with his wife Suzy Amis on December 6 in London
(L to R) Alan Bergman, Chairman of Disney Studios Content,, Brendan Cowell, Jamie Flatters, Jack Champion, Jon Landau, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, James Cameron, Sigourney Weaver, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Zoe Saldana, Bailey Bass, Sam Worthington, Joel David Moore and Steve Asbell on December 6
While most films drop off 50% or more in its second weekend and beyond, Avatar dropped just 1.8% in its second weekend and 9.4% in its third weekend, never dropping more than 50% until its 16th weekend of its 34-week run.
Avatar: The Way of Water brings fans back to the magical world of Pandora, where former Marine Jake Sully has made a new life and family with Neytiri (Zoe Saldana).
Stephen Lang returns as Miles Quaritch with new cast members including Kate Winslet, Giovani Ribisi, Jemaine Clement and more.
Star-studded cast: Avatar: The Way of Water brings fans back to the magical world of Pandora, where former Marine Jake Sully has made a new life and family with Neytiri (Zoe Saldana)
