This weekend Avatar: The Way of Water cruised on by $2 billion at the global box office. This makes it only the sixth film in movie history to do this. This also makes James Cameron the only filmmaker to direct three films that reach this milestone.
On Sunday Disney announced that the film will finish the weekend with a global box office total of $2.024 billion. This makes it the top grossing film of the pandemic era. Currently it has earned $598 million domestically and $1.426 billion overseas. In China alone it has garnered $230 million.
With Avatar: The Way of Water reaching the $2 billion milestone it becomes the sixth movie in history to do so and the number six movie of all time. It now is behind only Avatar, Avengers: Endgame, Titanic, Infinity War and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It is expected to pass up Infinity War and Star Wars: The Force Awakens this week to take the fourth spot. The film is also breaking IMAX records as it passed Star Wars: The Force Awakens to become the second most successful film in the format with $227 million in ticket sales.
The film cost an estimated $400 million to make (not including marketing) and director James Cameron has previously said that it would take around $2 billion for the film to be considered a smash hit. This apparently has happened. The film has been a bright spot in the film industry and also a bright spot for Disney after purchasing 20th Century Studios.
The original Avatar came to theaters 13 years ago and made $2.9 billion at the global box office. Behind it Avengers: Endgame earned $2.79 billion. James Cameron’s Titanic brought in a solid $2.19 billion in global ticket sales. Only time will tell if Avatar: The Way of Water surpasses these three box office juggernauts.
