Avatar 3 Box Office Shock: Fire and Ash Trails Zootopia 2 Despite 137M USD Opening

Avatar has always been celebrated as a global cinematic spectacle. The franchise stunned audiences twice before, earning worldwide admiration and redefining visual storytelling. This is the kind of filmmaking that draws applause purely for its imagery.

Once again, Avatar 3 arrived with massive anticipation. The franchise, which consistently captures audience curiosity, was expected to deliver another historic success. Based on the box office dominance of its first two installments, the third chapter titled Avatar: Fire and Ash, directed by James Cameron, was projected to become one of the biggest hits of 2025.

Early indicators suggested record breaking potential. However, the outcome surprised both fans and industry observers.

On its opening day, Avatar 3 collected approximately $137 million worldwide. While this is a strong figure, it failed to surpass the largest opening of the year. That record currently belongs to the animated film Zootopia 2, which was released on November 26 and earned $150 million on its first day. Avatar 3 falling short of this mark came as an unexpected disappointment.

In North America, the performance was particularly underwhelming. Including preview screenings, the film managed only $36 million, marking a weak start in the domestic market. Although international markets contributed nearly $100 million, the combined global opening still could not exceed Zootopia 2.

Another concern is the comparison with the previous installment. Avatar: The Way of Water in 2022 earned $441 million on its opening day, a figure that Avatar 3 failed to reach even halfway. While the first two Avatar films crossed $2 billion each during their theatrical runs, Fire and Ash now faces an uphill battle.

For the film to recover, it will need consistent weekday earnings and a strong surge during the upcoming Christmas holiday season. The coming weeks will determine whether Avatar 3 can regain momentum and improve its overall box office performance.