Life finds a way, andAvatarfinds a way to rake in those box office dollars. According toVariety,Avatar: The Way of Waterjust broke $1.708 billion globally. This achievement means it has officially passed 2015’sJurassic Worldand has taken its spot as the seventh-highest-grossing movie in film history. This comes shortly afterthe film overtook Furious 7and broke into the top 10 list.
Avatar: The Way of Wateris the long-awaited sequel to James Cameron’s 2009 blockbuster,Avatar. ConsideringAvatar’sproud ranking as the highest-grossing movie in film history, along with its decade-long production, there was a lot riding on the shoulders of both Cameron and his team. But within the first four weeks since its premiere,The Way of Watermanaged to pull in $517 million in North America and $1.19 billion overseas.
Avatar: The Way of Wateris on its way to becoming both the highest-grossing movie of 2022 and the second most successful film released during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Currently, the number one spot belongs to 2021’sSpider-Man: No Way Home, which earned an impressive $1.91 billion at the box office. But judging by the rate of the movie’s income, there’s a chance of the Na’vi de-throning the webbed wonder.
Related:Avatar: The Way of Water: How Spider Is the Key to the Sequel
ForAvatar: The Way of Waterto hit the $2 billion milestone in a COVID world was almost unheard of. Even without a pandemic holding it back, the financial milestone is nothing to shake a stick at. As of now, only five movies in history have crossed that $2 billion threshold,Avatar($2.9 billion),Avengers: Endgame($.279 billion),Titanic($2.2 billion),Star Wars: The Force Awakens($2.069 billion) andAvengers: Infinity War($2.04 billion). But at the rate of the film’s steady ticket sales, it’s starting to look more and more like a possibility. A big reason for the film’s current success is likely due to it gaining a big release in China, somethingSpider-Man: No Way Homelacked. 2009’sAvatarwas a large success in China, so much so that a 2021 re-release over there helpedAvatarwin back its spot as the highest-grossing movie afterAvengers: Endgamedethroned it in 2019.
While ticket sales have been steady, that doesn’t mean the $2 billion is in the bag.The Way of Waterhas already been dethroned after 21 days in the number one spot at the box offices. The film that overtook it?A little Blumhouse horror doll film called M3GAN.The horror movie surpassed the sci-fi action giant by just a mere $300,000, which is absolutely worth celebrating on Blumhouse’s end. Despite the stumble, James Cameron is still confident inThe Way of Waterand believes it will achieve that $2 billion goal.
Considering Cameron’s previous success, it’s easy to see why he would have such confidence. After all, two of the highest-grossing movies of all time are his. Perhaps in a few weeks, that number will bump up by one.
