Avatar 2: The Way of Water, the eagerly anticipated sequel of 2009 film Avatar, grossed over USD 441 million in its first week. Produced and directed by James Cameron, the awaited giant blockbuster is released on December 16 with the majority of the original cast reprise their roles such as Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang and Joel David Moore.
James Cameron, known for his critically acclaimed work in 1997’s Titanic, only exceeded by his own work in 2009’s Avatar, announced that for the sequel to be called a success it would need to make approximately around USD 2 billion, against its producing budget that cost around USD 350-460 million–almost double of its predecessor that cost USD 237 million.
At the domestic opening, The Way of Water managed to make USD 134 million, which is an immense increase when compared to the original film that earned USD 77 million. In the international market, The Way of Water managed to reach USD 300,5+ million in 52 markets.
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According to reports, the sequel has already earned USD 441 million worldwide as of Monday. Avatar 2: The Way of Water is currently the third-highest grossing movie during the pandemic, trailing only Spiderman: No Way Home (USD 600 million) and Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness (USD 442 million), respectively.
The Way of Water performed admirably in terms of ratings, earning nearly 94% from the general public and 78% from Rotten Tomatoes’ certified fresh grade. It is possible to surpass the predecessor box office record total, which reached USD 2.9 billions within 13 years of re-release following the debut, in the long run because there isn’t a significant competitor in the theater during this busy holiday week, and if it can maintain its success over time to draw additional curious viewers or even returning viewers.
