The Way Of Water’ Crosses $2 Billion In Box Office Sales After Six Weeks

Topline

Avatar: The Way Of Water is now the sixth film in history to gross over $2 billion worldwide at the box office, Disney announced on Sunday, as the movie approaches the top four best-selling films of all time, a mark that director James Cameron said was necessary for the pricey film—a sequel to Avatar, the highest-grossing movie ever—to break even.

This image released by 20th Century Studios shows Trinity Bliss, as Tuk, in a scene from “Avatar: … [+] The Way of Water.”

Key Facts

The Way Of Water has grossed $598 million domestically and $1.426 billion internationally since its December release.

The Avatar sequel is the second-fastest film after Avengers: Endgame to breach the $2 billion landmark, achieving the feat in just 39 days—a full six days earlier than the original Avatar, which was previously the second-fastest to the milestone.

With a worldwide gross of $2.024 billion, The Way Of Water is now the sixth-highest grossing film of all time, only slightly behind Avengers: Infinity War ($2.052 billion) and Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens ($2.071 billion), according to Box Office Mojo.

With its current trajectory, the film is all but certain to rise to the fourth spot on the all-time list sometime later this week—putting it behind only the original Avatar ($2.924 billion), Avengers: Endgame ($2.799 billion) and Titanic ($2.195 billion) and putting three James Cameron directed features in the top four.

Big Number

$900 million. That’s how much money Avatar: The Way Of Water needs to make to overtake 2009’s Avatar, which earned a record $2.9 billion worldwide. The first Avatar crossed the $2 billion mark 45 days after it was released.

Key Background

It’s estimated The Way Of Water cost over $350 million to make, plus tens of millions of dollars which were spent on marketing and promotion, making it one of the most expensive movies ever produced, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Cameron said that The Way of Water needed to be “the third or fourth highest-grossing film in history” for it to break even. The movie had a lackluster domestic opening of $134 million, but it grossed $1 billion just two weeks after being released, and is just the sixth film ever to do so in that time frame. Avatar: The Way Of Water has been the No. 1 film at the box office for six weeks in a row. Last week, Cameron said he expected The Way Of Water to cross $2 billion “in the next few days, just with the momentum it has now.”

Tangent

Cameron is one of the highest-grossing directors. In addition to the commercial success of Avatar and Avatar: The Way Of Water, he also directed 1997’s Titanic, the third highest-grossing film. To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Titanic is returning to theaters for a limited release on February 10, further boosting its grosses. Before The Way Of Water was released, Avatar also returned to theaters for a limited run.

What To Watch For

There was a 13-year gap between the first two Avatars, but fans shouldn’t have to wait that long for the franchise’s third and fourth installments. Cameron said last week Avatar 3 has already been photographed and captured. So has some of Avatar 4, which is already written, along with Avatar 5.