Every week, it seems like Avatar: The Way of Water sets a new milestone. In less than two months since its release, the film has already grossed over $2 billion worldwide to become the fourth highest-grossing film of all time behind only the first Avatar, Avengers: Endgame, and Titanic, giving the franchise two spots in the top ten.
It is also the sixth film in history to gross $2 billion and the second fastest to reach that milestone after Avengers: Endgame. Despite its massive success on the global stage, the film was not one of the highest-earners in the US initially. However, all of that is set to change as the film has now broken into the all-time top 10 domestic earners chart.
Avatar: The Way of Water is currently the tenth highest-grossing film at the US box office after knocking off Marvel’s blockbuster The Avengers. To achieve this feat, The Way of Water grossed $623.5 million at the domestic box office against The Avengers’ $623.4 million.
The James Cameron-directed movie will now set its sight on climbing higher up the US list and displacing ninth-placed Jurassic World with $653 million, eighth-placed Titanic with $659, and seventh-placed Avengers: Infinity War with $678 million.
Even though it is a tough ask this far from its debut, there is a small chance that the film can climb as high as sixth and displace Black Panther which grossed $700.4 million at the domestic box office. Fans will need to be dedicated repeat watchers for this to happen though.
The other films on the list are Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Avatar, and Top Gun: Maverick at first, second, third, fourth, and fifth positions respectively.
Following the incredible success of the film at the box office, the production team will now focus on making a third, fourth, and fifth installment. The third film, tentatively titled Avatar: The Seed Bearer, has already been filmed and will introduce a new Na’vi tribe previously unseen in the franchise.
It is currently in post-production and slated for release in December 2024. In addition, the scripts for the fourth and fifth installments are ready, and Cameron stated that the fourth film’s script elicited an expletive from a Disney Studio executive.
Avatar 3 will see Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winslet, Eddie Falco, Britain Dalton, and several other actors reprise their roles from The Way of Water. It will also see the addition of Michelle Yeoh, David Thewlis, and Oona Chaplin to its already stellar cast.
Cameron recently revealed that the franchise’s third installment will shake things up with Lo’ak in the narrator’s seat instead of his father. The franchise’s producer Jon Landau also recently revealed that Vin Diesel will not feature in the franchise in any capacity, contrary to widespread belief.
