‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Day 1 Box Office Collection: James Cameron Film Earns ₹30 Crore

James Cameron’s ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’, the third instalment in the globally successful Avatar franchise, opened in theatres amid massive anticipation. While the film recorded strong advance bookings in India, its Day 1 box office earnings remained below expectations, especially when compared to Avatar: The Way of Water. The film is also facing stiff competition from Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar’, which continues to perform strongly at the box office.

Strong Advance Bookings Build High Expectations

Pre-Release Buzz Across India and Overseas Markets

Ahead of its December 19 release, Avatar: Fire and Ash generated significant excitement due to franchise loyalty and James Cameron’s track record. Industry estimates initially projected a Day 1 India gross of ₹30–35 crore, driven largely by impressive advance ticket sales.

Ticket Sales in Major Cinema Chains

Advance booking data suggested robust audience interest:

• Over 1,65,000 tickets sold on Day 1 across PVR Inox and Cinepolis

• More than 4,35,000 admissions sold across these chains over the weekend

This indicated strong demand across regions, premium formats, and language versions.

Day 1 Box Office Performance Falls Short of Projections

Early Box Office Data

Despite high expectations, early box office tracking painted a more cautious picture.

• Sacnilk’s early evening estimates showed ₹0.78 crore net during initial reporting hours

• Final Day 1 numbers were expected to improve but still lag behind projections

The slower-than-expected start highlights the impact of competition and regional performance variations.

Comparison With Previous Avatar Films

How Fire and Ash Compares to Earlier Installments

Avatar: The Way of Water delivered a much stronger opening in India:

• ₹50 crore on Day 1 in 2022

• Approximately ₹500 crore during its full theatrical run

Globally:

• Avatar 2 opened with $441 million worldwide

• The original Avatar earned $232 million globally in 2009

In comparison:

• Avatar: Fire and Ash is projected to open at $250 million to $275 million worldwide

• Lifetime global earnings are estimated between $340 million and $365 million

For context:

• Avatar 2 earned $2.3 billion worldwide

• The original Avatar remains the highest-grossing film with $2.92 billion

Impact of Competition From ‘Dhurandhar’

Domestic Films Affecting Box Office Momentum

The box office landscape remains highly competitive, especially with Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar’ continuing its strong run during the holiday season. The film has already accumulated substantial revenue over the past two weeks and continues to draw audiences, particularly in North India.

This competition has played a significant role in limiting Avatar: Fire and Ash’s opening-day momentum outside metro markets.

Trade Analyst Reactions

Film trade analysts have closely monitored the opening-day performance.

“AvatarFireAndAsh Day 1: ₹24–28 crore nett (all versions included) India Biz," wrote film trade analyst Sumit Kadel in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

He further added:

“The new Avatar instalment is tracking an opening 30–35% lower than Avatar: The Way of Water (₹40 crore nett opening day) in India. A major portion of the collections is expected to come from the South, while in North India, #Dhurandhar is on a phenomenal run and is likely to dent the film’s box-office prospects significantly outside metro centres.”

About ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’

Cast and Storyline

The third chapter in the Avatar trilogy features an ensemble cast including:

• Sam Worthington

• Zoe Saldana

• Kate Winslet

• Stephen Lang

• Oona Chaplin

• Cliff Curtis

Plot Overview

The film follows Jake Sully, Neytiri, and their children as they confront a dangerous new enemy that is both human and Na’vi. The story explores complex themes of family, elemental conflict, and the price of protecting a burning world, while pushing the franchise into darker and more intense territory.

What Lies Ahead for Avatar: Fire and Ash

While the opening-day numbers may not match earlier Avatar films, Fire and Ash still benefits from strong brand recall, premium format appeal, and international market strength. Its long-term box office performance will depend heavily on word-of-mouth, repeat viewership, and sustained global interest during the holiday period.