Avatar: The Way of Water is expected to make a lot of money during the holiday season, but it may not match the impressive box office of the first Avatar.
The early forecasts for Avatar: The way of the water indicated that it could be less than the original 2009 film. After many delays, Avatar: The way of the water is finally set to open in theaters on December 16, leaving thirteen years between the original film. 20th Century Studios and parent company Disney have begun marketing the sequel, featuring an exclusive scene from the film featuring the recent reissue of Avatar.
Expectations are high for Avatar: The way of the water like the original Avatar was a surprise hit upon its opening in December 2009. Although it started off with a respectable opening weekend of $77 million, the film stayed strong throughout the weeks, reaching No. 1 at the box office for seven consecutive weeks, concluding its original domestic run with $773 million. At the time Avatar was the highest-grossing film of all time domestically, meaning many are watching to see if Avatar: The way of the water may reach a similar milestone, and director James Cameron was candid about the film’s box office potential.
Anticipation for Avatar: The way of the water is high, but it looks like it may not reach the heights of its predecessor based on early checkout registrations. According to Variety, Avatar: The way of the water is expected to gross $650 domestically. An impressive feat for any film, but then it would be $123 million less Avatars domestic box office total.
What Avatar 2’s Box Office projections mean for the outlook
The cash register falls between Avatar and Avatar: The way of the water is comparable with Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedic, as the first movie was an all-time hit at the box office, while the sequel grossed less, even though it was still a hit by every stat imaginable. The only difference would be that Star Wars: The Last Jedic was the highest-grossing film of 2017 at the domestic box office, but at $650 million, Avatar: The way of the water would be second behind Top Gun: Maverick.
No one could have predicted that Top Gun: Maverick would do just as well at the box office as it did, and it could do for Avatar: The way of the water. The highly anticipated character of the sequel coupled with the holiday release that helped the first one Avatar and the Star Wars sequel trilogy episodes are definitely working in Avatar: The Way of Waters favor. The rival studio’s decision to make films like . to postpone Shazam! Anger of the Gods, Super Mario Bros.and Kraven the hunter resources Avatar: The way of the water has December and January pretty much to itself. The first major competition it has won’t happen for two whole months until the release of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Avatar: The way of the water would still manage to match its predecessor and if not, it could come very close.
Source: Variety
