Avatar: The Way of Water appears to be swimming steadily toward that coveted $2 billion milestone. According to the latest numbers from Box Office Mojo, the new film from James Cameron has now made over $1.9 billion worldwide, with some outlets, including Variety, listing similar but higher figures of $1.928 billion. Variety’s number would imply that Avatar: The Way of Water is now the sixth-biggest film of all time, a record that was previously held by Marvel Studios’ latest Spider-Man movie, Spider-Man: No Way Home, which has made $1.921 billion since its release in December 2021.
From a Variety report:
James Cameron’s blockbuster sequel “Avatar: The Way of Water” has generated $1.928 billion globally, overtaking “Spider-Man: No Way Home” ($1.91 billion) as the sixth-highest grossing release in box office history.
So far, “The Way of Water” has generated $574 million in North America and $1.35 billion internationally after less than six weeks in theaters. The film’s overseas tally is especially impressive because it’s not playing in Russia (where the original grossed more than $100 million) and it’s falling short of expectations in Japan (where the original generated $176 million). Lucky for Disney, which owns the rights to “Avatar,” the sequel is outperforming projections in China ($217 million), France ($123 million), Germany ($108 million) and Korea ($93.6 million).
Avatar: The Way of Water is expected to cross the $2 billion mark relatively soon, making it the newest member of an exclusive club that currently includes only five members. Per Variety, they include the original Avatar ($2.9 billion), Avengers: Endgame ($2.79 billion), Titanic ($2.2 billion), Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($2.069 billion), and Avengers: Infinity War ($2.04 billion). Cameron, who also directed the original Avatar and 1997’s Titanic, said that Avatar: The Way of Water has made enough money to secure three additional films, planned for release in 2024, 2026, and 2028.