The highly anticipated sequel to the 2009 film, the sci-fi blockbuster “Avatar: The Way of the Water”, swept through the box office for its first weekend in North American theaters, according to preliminary figures on Sunday from specialist firm Exhibitor Relations.
Recording some 134 million dollars in revenue between Friday and Sunday, the film by director James Cameron is however slightly below the forecasts of specialists.
Worldwide, the film also earned an additional $300 million.
And with more than 430 million dollars, “Avatar 2” achieves one of the best entries at the box office since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Again set on the planet Pandora, “The Way of the Water” tells a story set more than a decade after the events of the first film.
U.S. Marine Jake Sully (played by Sam Worthington), has transitioned into the body of a Na’vi, the tall, blue-skinned people of Pandora, and works with them to protect their habitat from a fatal threat.
Another sequel, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”, has therefore lost first place and is far behind “Avatar” with 5.4 million dollars in revenue between Friday and Sunday.
After six weeks of release, the Afro-futuristic Marvel film has grossed nearly $419 million at North American box offices, and $367 million worldwide.
Third place in the ranking is occupied by “Violent Night” (5 million), an action comedy where “Stranger Things” star David Harbor plays a grumpy Santa Claus who is quick to give blows with a club when malicious people enter. breaking into a wealthy family.
“Avalonia, the strange journey”, Disney’s animated film is in fourth place with 2.2 million dollars, while “The Menu”, which borrows from horror cinema, film noir and to the squeaky comedy starring Ralph Fiennes, took fifth place with $1.7 million in revenue.
Here’s the rest of the top 10:
6- “Devotion” ($0.83 million)
7- “The Fabelmans” (0,75 million)
8- “Black Adam” (0,5 million)
9- “I Heard the Bells” (0,3 million)
10- “Empire of Light” (0,24 million)