Get ready to be blown away – the box office is sizzling with the arrival of Avatar: Fire and Ash, which just ignited its weekend with a fiery $12 million in Thursday previews. But here’s where it gets controversial: Is this James Cameron threequel living up to the hype, or is it falling short of its predecessors?**
Starting at 2 PM, the latest installment in the Avatar saga kicked off its theatrical run, though it’s worth noting that its preview numbers are $5 million behind 2022’s Avatar: The Way of Water, which raked in $17 million before soaring to a $134.1 million three-day total. However, don’t jump to conclusions just yet – with Christmas around the corner, audiences might be saving their theater trips for the holidays. And let’s not forget, Avatar movies are marathon events, clocking in at over three hours, so viewers often take their time to plan the perfect cinema experience. And this is the part most people miss: When it comes to Avatar, the real test of its box office might not come until late January. Early tracking suggests a $90 million to $105 million domestic weekend, but only time will tell.
Comparatively, the $12 million preview figure aligns with recent blockbusters like Dune: Part Two, which pulled in $32.2 million on its first Friday, and Captain America: Brave New World, which scored $40.9 million. Yet, there’s a key difference: Marvel movies thrive on FOMO (fear of missing out), driving fans to rush to theaters, while Avatar fans tend to strategize their showtimes and seating arrangements.
Critically, Fire and Ash sits at a 69% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, slightly below the 2009 original’s 81% and The Way of Water’s 76%. Is this a sign of franchise fatigue, or just a blip on the radar? Weigh in below!
Meanwhile, Lionsgate’s The Housemaid, starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, is off to a strong start with $2.25 million to $2.3 million in previews. While industry forecasts aimed higher, Lionsgate is playing the long game, banking on a steady holiday season run for this R-rated thriller. With glowing reviews at 77% certified fresh, it’s poised to outperform similar Thursday night previews from films like Hustlers and Don’t Worry Darling.
Families might not be flocking to previews on Thursdays, but that’s about to change. By Monday, 81% of K-12 students will be off school, setting the stage for Angel Studios’ faith-based animated film David, which pulled in $1.8 million in previews. Many predict it could land in the No. 2 spot this weekend with $20 million to $25 million, despite a modest 63% critic score. Audiences, however, are loving it, with a staggering 97% RT audience score.
Paramount’s SpongeBob Movie: The Search for Squarepants isn’t far behind, with $1.3 million in previews. If it follows the trajectory of Boss Baby 2: Family Business, it could hit $16 million over three days. With an 85% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s the highest-rated SpongeBob film ever – but will that translate to box office gold? What’s your take? Are these numbers a sign of a shifting cinematic landscape, or just business as usual? Let us know in the comments!
