New Delhi, With less than 24 hours to go before its theatrical release, James Cameron’s much-anticipated sci-fi epic Avatar: Fire and Ash is already making waves at the global box office. Strong advance bookings indicate that the third installment of the blockbuster Avatar franchise is poised for a thunderous opening, with estimates suggesting a worldwide Day 1 gross of over ₹2,400 crore.
Scheduled to release in India on Friday, December 19, Avatar: Fire and Ash has generated tremendous excitement among fans. In India, advance booking trends clearly point toward a powerful opening, even as the film faces competition from Ranveer Singh’s action entertainer Dhurandhar, which has already amassed an impressive ₹437.25 crore net collection in 14 days.
Strong Global and Indian Projections
According to reports, Avatar 3 is expected to earn $90–105 million (around ₹900 crore) from its domestic (North American) box office across nearly 3,800 theaters. Worldwide, the film is projected to collect $250–275 million (approximately ₹2,400 crore) on its opening day alone. The opening weekend global gross could soar beyond $365 million (₹3,300 crore).
In India, advance bookings for the opening day have already crossed ₹12 crore nearly a day before release, with more sales expected on Thursday. Trade analysts predict a Day 1 India collection of ₹30–35 crore, which would put it ahead of Dhurandhar, whose opening-day net collection stood at ₹28 crore.
Premium Formats Boost Earnings
A significant portion of Avatar: Fire and Ash’s revenue in India is expected to come from IMAX 3D, 4DX, and premium multiplex screens, especially in metro cities. Ticket prices for IMAX shows range between ₹950 and ₹2,400, and reports suggest that around 70% of IMAX seats are already filled for the opening weekend. This strong occupancy poses a direct challenge to Dhurandhar, which also relies heavily on urban multiplex audiences.
Early Reviews and Expectations
Early reactions from countries like Germany and the Philippines, where the film has already been released, praise its stunning visuals and technical brilliance. However, some viewers have pointed out a lengthy runtime and slightly weaker narrative depth compared to earlier films. Despite this, box office trends indicate that Avatar: Fire and Ash is on track to become one of the biggest releases of 2025.
Legacy of the Avatar Franchise
The expectations are naturally sky-high. The original Avatar (2009) opened with $232 million worldwide and went on to collect over ₹23,000 crore globally. Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) debuted with $441 million and earned more than ₹19,000 crore worldwide, including ₹391.40 crore net from India alone.
With such a legacy behind it, Avatar: Fire and Ash carries immense pressure—but if early box office indicators are anything to go by, James Cameron’s epic is well on its way to setting new records, both globally and in India.