After just six weeks of release, James Cameron‘s blockbuster sequel “Avatar: The Way of Water” has surpassed $2 billion in global ticket sales. It’s the sixth film in history — and first in pandemic times — to cross the coveted milestone, joining an exclusive club that includes “Avatar,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “Titanic,” “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” and “Avengers: Infinity War.”
Now, Cameron is responsible for three of the six-highest grossing movies of all time. He’s also the only director with three films to cross $2 billion. Zoe Saldaña, who plays Neytiri in the “Avatar” series, has starred in four of the six films to cross $2 billion. She also appears in both “Avengers: Endgame” and “Avengers: Infinity War,” reprising her “Guardians of the Galaxy” role of Gamora.
Notably, “The Way of Water” has officially hit the lofty goal that Cameron set for himself prior to the film’s release. Before the sequel opened in theaters, he told GQ that “Avatar 2” represents“the worst business casein movie history” because it needs to become one of the three or four top-grossing movies of all timejustto break even. (Analysts believe the film’s breakeven point was close to $1.5 billion, so “The Way of Water” has already been in the black.) But in the coming days, it’ll take down the fourth- and fifth-biggest movies, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” ($2.07 billion) and “Avengers: Infinity War” ($2.04 billion), to achieve that feat.
The original “Avatar,” which debuted in theaters 13 years ago, remains the biggest movie of all time with $2.9 billion. “Avengers: Endgame” trails closely behind in second place with $2.79 billion, while “Titanic” stands as the third-highest grossing release ever with $2.19 billion.
So far, “The Way of Water” has generated $598 million at the domestic box office and $1.4 billion internationally. Overseas, the standout markets are China ($229 million), France ($129 million), Germany ($117 million), Korea ($96 million) and the United Kingdom ($81 million). It’s especially impressive that “Avatar 2” managed to crack $2 billion, a benchmark that’s been impossible in COVID times, because not every market is re-connecting with the Na’vi. The follow-up isn’t playing in Russia, where the original grossed $116 million, and it’s flopping in Japan with $28 million, a dramatic decrease from the first film’s $176 million haul.
The long-delayed sequel to 2009’s “Avatar” opened in December and remained hugely popular in the weeks since its release. Like the original, Imax and 3D screens, as well as repeat customers across all ages and demographics, have propelled ticket sales to stratospheric heights. Disney, which holds the rights to “Avatar” after acquiring 20th Century Fox in 2019, spent roughly $460 million to produce and promote “The Way of Water,” making it one of the most expensive films ever.
FAQs
Avatar: The Way of Water has become only the sixth film in history to crossed the $2 billion mark at the worldwide box office, not adjusted for inflation. The movie's performance is a huge victory for director James Cameron, who is the only filmmaker to have directed three films achieving the milestone.
Will Avatar Way of Water break $2 billion? ›
Avatar: The Way of Water's worldwide box office passed $2 billion, but no one cares - Vox.
Did Way of Water surpass Avatar? ›
Director James Cameron has helmed three of the top four highest-grossing global movies of all time, including Avatar (#1), Avatar: The Way of Water (#3) and Titanic (#4).
How much money has Avatar: The Way of Water made globally? ›
As the third highest-grossing movie of all time with $2.3 billion, behind Avatar's $2.9 billion and Avengers: Endgame's $2.79 billion, Deadline sources deem Avatar: The Way of Water profitable with $531.7 million.
When did Avatar 2 reach $1 billion? ›
Avatar: The Way of Water reached the billion-dollar mark in just 14 days. Cameron, 68, recently told GQ that the sequel was "very f---ing" expensive to make.
Why does Avatar need $2 billion? ›
Two billion dollars was the number Cameron put forward during an interview with GQ late last year. When discussing the monster budget for the movie, he said to break even, the movie needed to “be the third or fourth highest-grossing film in history,” which would put it in the $2 billion range.
How much money would Avatar 2 need to make to break even? ›
James Cameron said Avatar 2 needs to make $2 billion just to break even.
Did Avatar beat Titanic? ›
'Avatar: The Way of Water' Overtakes 'Titanic' as Third-Highest Grossing Movie of All Time.
Is Avatar 2 flop or hit? ›
James Cameron's Avatar 2's global collection now stands at $2.2433 billion, surpassing Titanic's worldwide collection of $2.218 billion. Cameron, the only filmmaker with three films grossing $2 billion or more, directed the first, third, and fourth most successful releases in history.
Where does Avatar 2 rank in the world? ›
This past weekend, the Disney and 20th Century Studios sci-fi sequel Avatar: The Way of Water surpassed $2B at the global box office, now ranking #6 all time. With $2.02B, the film now ranks only behind: 2009's Avatar ($2.92B) 2019's Avengers: Endgame ($2.79B)
Zoe Saldaña earned $4 million for starring in James Cameron's Avatar in 2009.
Did Avatar Way of Water make a profit? ›
'Avatar: The Way of Water' Reportedly Made a Total Profit of $531 Million.
How much did James Cameron make from Avatar? ›
He earned $350 million for the first "Avatar," based largely on box-office and home-entertainment sales, Deadline reported in 2010.
Will Avatar reach $2 billion? ›
It's especially impressive that “Avatar 2” managed to crack $2 billion, a benchmark that's been impossible in COVID times, because not every market is re-connecting with the Na'vi.
Does Avatar 2 really need to make 2 billion? ›
In an interview in November 2022, James Cameron said that Avatar 2 needed to make $2 billion at the box office to be profitable. Cameron said: "You have to be the third or fourth highest-grossing film in history. That's your threshold.
How much has Avatar 2 profited? ›
The film earned mostly positive reviews from audiences and critics alike and was a major box office success, earning over $2.3 million and becoming the third highest-grossing movie of all time. Now, per a new study from Deadline, Avatar: The Way of Water's actual profit sits at $531.7 million.
How much money does Avatar Way of Water need to break even? ›
When Cameron said in November that “The Way of Water” would need to become “the third or fourth highest-grossing film in history” just to “break even,” it appeared he was referring to the $2 billion mark. The director clarified his comment to Chris Wallace, saying, “I never actually gave it a number.
Will Avatar: The Way of Water break the record? ›
Avatar: The Way of Water Sinks Titanic as Third Biggest Movie of All Time. James Cameron famously once said that Avatar: The Way of Water would need to be the “the third or fourth highest-grossing film in history” in order to truly be considered successful.
Has Avatar 2 made $2 billion? ›
It's especially impressive that “Avatar 2” managed to crack $2 billion, a benchmark that's been impossible in COVID times, because not every market is re-connecting with the Na'vi.
Did Avatar 2 cost $2 billion? ›
Releasing 13 years after the first installment, 'Avatar 2' is one of the most expensive movies ever made. According to reports, the movie cost $350-400 million. The visual extravaganza minted $ 1 billion globally within 14 days of its release.
