James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third installment in the acclaimed sci-fi series, has grossed $1.106 billion worldwide after three weeks, marking a remarkable showing in the ongoing Christopher Nolan box office comparison. The film is now the third-highest global earner of 2025 and continues to climb in both international and North American box office charts.
Avatar Threequel Achieves Billion-Dollar Milestone
Avatar: Fire and Ash joins an elite group by surpassing the $1 billion threshold, making it the fourth movie in 2025 to do so. With this achievement, it stands as the third biggest global earner for the year, trailing only Zootopia 2, which currently holds $1.597 billion in worldwide receipts. The gap between the two stands at $491 million, and while early forecasts suggested a final take in the $1.5 to $1.7 billion range for Avatar: Fire and Ash, the film’s historical momentum could propel it even further. James Cameron’s previous works are known for sustained box office performance, leaving open the possibility of a higher finish.
North American Earnings Narrow Margin with Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer
In North America, the film has secured its place among the top 100 highest-grossing films of all time, recently surpassing blockbusters like Suicide Squad, Deadpool 2, and Shrek the Third. As reported by Box Office Mojo, Avatar 3’s current domestic total has reached $326.4 million. The Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana starrer now has its sights set on breaking the $350 million mark in North America.
The film is closing in on Christopher Nolan’s celebrated WWII epic, Oppenheimer. As of this week, Avatar: Fire and Ash trails Oppenheimer by just $3.7 million domestically. Oppenheimer, headlined by Cillian Murphy, sits at $330.1 million in North American ticket sales, compared to Avatar 3’s $326.4 million. Given Avatar 3’s box office resilience, it appears poised to surpass Oppenheimer’s total in the coming weeks, representing another major achievement in the Christopher Nolan box office comparison.
Comparing International and Worldwide Box Office Totals
Internationally, Avatar: Fire and Ash leads Oppenheimer by a significant margin. The threequel has earned $779.9 million outside North America, bringing its worldwide cumulative box office to $1.106 billion. For reference, Oppenheimer’s international returns amount to $645.7 million, while its global total is $975.8 million. This shows Avatar 3’s strong international appeal, boosting its overall standing in the current box office landscape.
Recent Box Office Performance and Audience Trends
On its fourth Friday in North America, Avatar: Fire and Ash generated $5.1 million despite a substantial 63.6 percent decline compared to the prior Friday and a reduction of 135 cinema screens. For comparison, the original Avatar experienced a 47.5 percent drop on its fourth Friday, while Avatar: The Way of Water declined by 54 percent. Despite the steeper decrease, projections estimate Avatar 3 will secure $20 to $23 million over its fourth three-day weekend, reflecting its enduring draw among audiences.
Main Characters and Story Continuation in the Avatar Saga
The narrative of Avatar: Fire and Ash continues to follow Jake Sully, portrayed by Sam Worthington, and Neytiri, played by Zoe Saldana, as they navigate the challenges following the tragic loss of Neteyam. The Sully family encounters new adversaries, particularly the Ash People, a fierce Na’vi clan led by Varang. This ongoing journey explores themes of grief, survival, and inter-clan dynamics on Pandora.
What’s Ahead for Avatar: Fire and Ash in the Box Office Race?
Avatar: Fire and Ash’s rapid earnings suggest it is on the verge of overtaking Oppenheimer at the North American box office, further cementing its place in cinematic history. With strong international performance and continued interest from moviegoers, the film’s ultimate tally remains to be seen, but its potential for success in the Christopher Nolan box office comparison is evident. Industry observers will be watching its momentum in the coming weeks as it aims to climb even higher among the year’s top grossers.
