The worldwide box office for James Cameron’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” has surpassed $1 billion.
The combined $317 million in domestic sales and $712 million from other markets bring the total global ticket sales for the Disney movie to $1.03 billion.
The milestone was reached 14 days following the release of “The Way of Water,” five days earlier than “Avatar” did in 2009. The movie now ranks among the top five fastest films to earn $1 billion at the box office.
In order for “The Way of Water” to be considered lucrative, according to Cameron, box office receipts must reach $2 billion. Box office experts think Cameron’s film may succeed in its ambitious ambition. “The Way of Water” has no direct or significant competition in theaters until mid-February when “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” is released.
Still, industry experts are concerned by muted ticket sales from China. The market was expected to be a major source of revenue for the sequel but has underperformed expectations as Covid once again roils the region. China has accounted for just $108 million in ticket sales for the film.
The country was expected to bring in $100 million in business during the film’s opening weekend alone. “The Way of Water” is one of only a handful of Hollywood releases that have been permitted for a coveted release in China this year. China has become a dominant market in the global theatrical space and is considered vital for blockbusters seeking top box-office numbers.