‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Creates Box Office Storm Ahead of Release, Set for Massive ₹2,400 Crore Global Opening

With less than 24 hours remaining for its release, James Cameron’s much-anticipated sci-fi epic “Avatar: Fire and Ash” has already ignited the global box office through extraordinary advance bookings. Trade analysts estimate that the third installment of the blockbuster Avatar franchise is poised to earn over ₹2,400 crore worldwide on its opening day, making it one of the biggest cinematic openings in history.

Releasing in India on Friday, December 19, Avatar: Fire and Ash is witnessing unprecedented enthusiasm among audiences. Advance booking trends clearly indicate that the film is all set to outperform Ranveer Singh’s “Dhurandhar” in India, which has already collected a massive ₹437.25 crore net in just 14 days.

Strong Advance Booking in India

Despite being a direct sequel to Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), early data suggests that Avatar: Fire and Ash is slightly behind its predecessor in terms of first-day advance booking numbers. However, the overall momentum remains extremely strong.
As of 24 hours before release, the film has already secured around ₹12 crore in advance bookings in India, with ticket sales still ongoing across major multiplex chains.

Industry experts project an opening day collection of ₹30–35 crore net in India, comfortably surpassing Dhurandhar, which opened at ₹28 crore. The biggest boost is coming from metro cities and premium formats such as IMAX 3D and 4DX, where ticket prices range from ₹950 to ₹2,400. Several IMAX theatres are already reporting 70% seat occupancy for the weekend.

Massive Global Projections

According to international trade publication Variety, Avatar: Fire and Ash is expected to debut with $90–105 million (approx. ₹900 crore) in the domestic North American market across 3,800 screens.
Globally, the film is projected to earn $250–275 million (around ₹2,400 crore) on its opening day alone, while its opening weekend collections could soar beyond $365 million (₹3,300 crore) worldwide.

The film has already released in select international markets such as Germany and the Philippines, where early audience reactions strongly praise its breathtaking visuals. Some viewers, however, have pointed out concerns over the lengthy runtime and comparatively less narrative depth. Nevertheless, box office trends suggest that the film is on track to become one of the biggest earners of 2025.

Pressure of a Legendary Franchise

The expectations from Avatar: Fire and Ash are immense, given the extraordinary legacy of the franchise.

• Avatar (2009) opened globally at $232 million and went on to earn over ₹23,000 crore worldwide.
• Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) debuted with $441 million and amassed more than ₹19,000 crore globally, including ₹391.40 crore net from India alone.

With both previous films crossing the $2 billion lifetime mark, Avatar: Fire and Ash carries significant pressure to match or exceed its predecessors’ success.

Verdict

Driven by premium formats, strong word-of-mouth potential, and unmatched visual spectacle, Avatar: Fire and Ash is shaping up to be a box office juggernaut, not only threatening ongoing Indian releases like Dhurandhar but also setting new benchmarks for global cinema. As the year 2025 draws to a close, James Cameron appears ready once again to rewrite box office history.