Despite winter weather flexing on both coasts, moviegoing didn’t miss a beat as Avatar: Fire and Ash continued to dominate the final weekend of 2025. Rainstorms in Los Angeles and several inches of snow in New York City failed to slow down James Cameron’s latest epic, which is pacing toward a roughly $60 million second weekend domestically. That marks an estimated 33 percent drop from its opening frame, pending how the weekend ultimately plays out.
The hold puts Fire and Ash in impressive company. Its second weekend decline is far stronger than 2022’s Avatar: The Way of Water, which slid 52 percent amid severe winter storms, though it still does not match the near-unprecedented staying power of the original Avatar, which dipped just 1.8 percent in its second weekend.
Bolstered by the Christmas holiday, the film’s four-day second frame is tracking at approximately $84 million, driven by a $22.6 million second Friday across 3,800 theaters. By the end of Sunday, Fire and Ash is expected to reach a domestic total of $213.7 million. Globally, the film has already grossed $760 million, reaffirming Cameron’s enduring box office pull and the franchise’s continued worldwide appeal.
According to Deadline, audience metrics remain solid in weekend two. General moviegoers accounted for 88 percent of ticket buyers, with parents representing 7 percent and kids under 12 at 4 percent. Mothers led family attendance at 52 percent. Parents responded exceptionally well to the film’s 3-hour, 17-minute runtime, delivering a 90% definite-recommend score. Kids, predominantly boys at 69 percent, registered a 62 percent must-see-right-away rating.
Overall, the definite recommendation from general audiences stands at a strong 70 percent. Women over 25, who made up 29 percent of the audience, gave the film its highest enthusiasm with a 76 percent definite recommend score, while men under 25, representing 16 percent of ticket buyers, were the least enthusiastic at 52 percent.
Cameron’s Plan
That performance matters more than ever because Cameron has made it clear that the future of the Avatar saga hinges on how Fire and Ash ultimately performs. While Disney currently has Avatar 4 slated for 2029 and Avatar 5 for 2031, the filmmaker acknowledges that nothing beyond the third chapter is guaranteed.
If the saga were to be cut short, however, Cameron says he would make sure fans are not left without answers. “I don’t know if the saga goes beyond this point. I hope it does. But, you know, we prove that business case every time we go out… If we don’t get to make 4 and 5, for whatever reason, I’ll hold a press conference and I’ll tell you what we were gonna do. How’s that?” Cameron told Entertainment Weekly.
The Oscar-winning director has also considered preserving the larger story in another format, including novels, but admits that the idea may not be realistic in today’s media climate.
“There’s so much culture and backstory and lateral detail in these characters that’s been worked out. I’d love to do something that’s at that level of granular detail,” he said. “There’s no business model for it anymore. People aren’t reading. But anyway, it might be good to have the canonical record of what it was all supposed to be.”
Avatar: Fire and Ash continues the ongoing story of the Sully family, led by Jake Sully and Neytiri, as Pandora faces new threats following the events of The Way of Water. The film stars Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña, alongside Sigourney Weaver as Kiri, with Stephen Lang returning as Quaritch. The ensemble also includes Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Bailey Bass, Britain Dalton, Trinity Jo Li Bliss, and Jack Champion.
For now, Cameron remains focused on delivering the next chapter. Whether Pandora’s story ultimately stretches to five films or concludes sooner, the filmmaker appears determined to ensure that his full vision does not disappear into the void.
REELated:
Go behind the scenes with the cast of Avatar: Fire and Ash
