Avatar: Fire and Ash continued its strong run at the box office on New Year’s Eve. The film topped daily charts with earnings of $8.1 million. It once again showed the global pull of James Cameron’s Avatar franchise.
Since its release, Fire and Ash has become a major holiday release for Disney. The studio gained the Avatar rights after acquiring Fox in 2019. In just two weeks, the film has earned over $250 million worldwide. Overseas markets have played a key role in boosting these numbers.
Industry analysts expect Fire and Ash to cross the $1 billion global mark soon. The film’s strong international performance has balanced slower growth in North America. It highlights the continued appeal of large-scale visual spectacles.
Despite this success, the wider movie business ended 2025 on a cautious note. Cinema ticket sales in the United States and Canada reached $8.87 billion. This figure shows a 1.5 percent increase compared to 2024. However, it still fell short of the $9 billion many experts predicted.
Before the pandemic, annual box office revenues often neared or crossed $11 billion. Attendance levels have not fully recovered since then. Rising ticket prices have also changed viewing habits for many audiences.
Premium formats have helped offset lower foot traffic in cinemas. IMAX and other large-screen experiences charge higher ticket prices. These formats have lifted overall revenue even with fewer moviegoers.
Fire and Ash benefited from this trend. Many viewers chose premium screens to experience its visual effects. This helped push its earnings higher during the holiday season.
The success of Fire and Ash shows the power of established franchises. Big-budget films still attract audiences willing to pay for theatre experiences. At the same time, overall industry growth remains slow.
As 2026 begins, studios will closely watch upcoming releases. They hope more films can replicate the momentum of Fire and Ash. The industry now looks to rebuild attendance while relying on global hits.
In other news read more about: Avatar: Fire and Ash Release Date Announced
