Avatar: Fire and Ash box office hits $1 billion as James Cameron chases records

James Cameron just can't stop winning. His latest blockbuster, Avatar: Fire and Ash, has officially crossed the $1 billion threshold at the global box office in just its third week of release. According to Entertainment Weekly, the film pulled in $40 million domestically and $169.6 million internationally over the recent weekend, bringing its total global tally to $1.08 billion.

Analyzing the Avatar: Fire and Ash box office performance

The film's domestic drop was only 37% from week two, a strong indicator of staying power for a production of this scale. Globally, the momentum is even steadier with a mere 29% decline. However, when compared to its predecessor, Avatar: The Way of Water, the numbers look slightly more modest. Way of Water had amassed $425.5 million domestically by this point, while Fire and Ash currently sits at $306 million at home.

The Battle for 2025's Top Spot

Cameron hasn't claimed the title of 2025's highest-grossing director just yet. That honor currently belongs to the team behind Zootopia 2, which has reached a staggering $1.58 billion globally. Despite the fierce competition, the domestic box office ended 2025 with $8.87 billion in total revenue, marking a 1.5% increase over the previous year. Holiday hits like Wicked: For Good and Five Nights at Freddy's 2 also played pivotal roles in this growth.