Box Office: ‘Avatar: The Way Of Water’ Crosses $850M, ‘Wakanda Forever’ Reaches $800M World Wide

After 10 days on the big screen, Disney and 20th Century’s big-budget epic “Avatar: The Way of Water” is the fifth-highest grossing movie of the year with $855 million in global ticket sales.

Coming off his second weekend, James Cameron Avatar: The Way of Water has transferred an estimated $855.4M worldwide until Sunday. Added the second session $168.6M at the international box office in 52 markets for a $601.7M running cume.

The “Avatar” sequel is expected to bring in strong grosses in the coming days. By the end of the year, the $350 million-budgeted tentpole is aiming to hit the $1 billion mark. It’s a benchmark that only two other movies, “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Jurassic World Dominion,” have managed to hit in 2022.

The eagerly awaited sequel was also approved overseas by 20th Century Studios/Disney Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Minions: The Rise of Gru to become the #3 biggest Hollywood grossing title of 2022. It’s also now the #5 studio title of the pandemic era, and will soon top the charts no time to die$613 million.

The offshore decline since the opening weekend was 42% (-38% excluding China) and this is because Christmas Eve falls on a Saturday and today is Christmas Day. Business on the 24th is generally quiet with cinemas closing earlier in many markets while the UK traditionally closes on the 25th.

Some markets were up or down from the last session, notably Israel (+22%), Hong Kong (-4%), France (-7%), Korea (-7%), Indonesia (-8%) and of Ukraine (-9%).

Last week’s midweek was very strong, rising to 69% of last weekend’s Friday/Saturday/Sunday opening session (excluding China). The sci-fi epic is expected to continue that trend this week with holidays in full swing and plenty of holiday distractions to look back on.

China, the leading market so far, fell 55% this weekend and added $25.9 million for local sales of $100.5 million. The film had a strong Saturday/Sunday play compared to Friday and ticketing site Maoyan has upgraded its lifetime forecast to RMB1.11 billion (US$160 million). Still under the (unadjusted) run of the original film in 2010, but better than what we’ve seen in the market given Covid concerns.

Korea, Avatar: The way of the water‘s #2 market, also had a strong Saturday/Sunday game and has grossed $53 million so far. France ($52.3M), India ($37 million) and Germany ($35.7M) round out the top five.

At IMAX, the Na’vi grossed $27.6 million worldwide, the format’s third-highest second weekend. Offshore revenue is $62.8 million for $97 million worldwide. Highlights of individual markets include China, where the IMAX total is $25.8 million, accounting for 26.2% of the total.

In France and Korea, opening weekend IMAX sales were up; in France way of the water is the biggest IMAX title of all time while being #2 in markets like India, Thailand and Vietnam. 40 markets have already been seen in 10-12 days of release way of the water Climb into the top 10 of the IMAX charts.

After his early overseas debut at Universal/DreamWorks Animation Puss in Boots: The Last Wish Added and applied 28 markets for the holiday session $16.5M 53 overall. Last weekend’s hold was +6% and the cume to Sunday is $32.5M Per $50.8M globally, including Monday domestic, that’s an estimated $57.2 million worldwide.

Exclusively Chinawhich had a soft start of $358k with strong impact from Covid, opening markets are expected to hold in line with singing 2Above Fernando and just below the first To sing.

The top opener was Mexico at $3.1 million including paid previews. The market has been weak overall in recent weeks, with the focus on Christmas celebrations after two pandemic years that saw audiences face restrictions around the holiday. The school holidays run through January 9th and family audiences should be picking up after this weekend.

Germany has grossed $1.45 million including previews while Spain (with many theaters closed for Christmas) is $1.17 million. Friday there was well above the opening Friday singing 2 and consistent with Fernando, Encanto and Kung Fu Panda 3. Netherlands starts at an estimated $760,000 including previews.

France All leads are playing at $8.6M (+46% this session), followed by Mexico and Italy ($3 million). Tomorrow Australia starts with Korea, Brazil and Japan in 2023.

Meanwhile, Disney/Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has blossomed worldwide with an estimate reaching the $800 million mark $799.5M until Sunday. Included in it $373.8M at the international box office and $425.7 million domestically.

The top 5 markets are those United Kingdom ($38.5M), Mexico ($35.5M), France ($30.6M), Brazil ($20.8M) and Australia ($19.2M).

December 26, 2022