Los Angeles: The third installment in the blockbuster Avatar franchise debuted with an estimated $88 million in North America during the pre-Christmas weekend, according to industry trackers, while international markets drove the film’s $345 million global opening. The performance marks the second-biggest global opening of any Hollywood release in 2025, trailing only Disney’s animated hit Zootopia 2.

Industry analysts say the film’s long-term prospects remain strong. Early audience response appears promising, with the film earning an A CinemaScore and strong PostTrak exit ratings despite its lengthy runtime of over three hours.

Directed by James Cameron, the film reunites Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington as Na’vi warrior Neytiri and former Marine Jake Sully, who face a new threat to their family on Pandora. Released by 20th Century Studios and Disney, the high-budget spectacle is expected to gain traction through the lucrative Christmas and New Year holiday corridor, where box-office multiples traditionally surge.

The film’s opening, while below the $441.6 million global launch of 2022’s Avatar: The Way of Water, mirrors the trajectory of the original Avatar. That 2009 release opened to a modest $77 million domestically before going on to become the highest-grossing film of all time, with $2.97 billion worldwide, unadjusted for inflation.

Elsewhere at the North American box office, the animated biblical retelling David from Angel Studios debuted in second place with $20 million, followed closely by Lionsgate’s thriller The Housemaid, which earned $19 million. Paramount’s family release The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants opened fourth with $16 million, while Disney’s Zootopia 2 rounded out the top five with $14.5 million, pushing its global total to $1.27 billion.