The much-awaited Hollywood spectacle, 'Avatar: Fire and Ash', has stormed into Indian theatres, amassing a significant total at the domestic box office. However, the film's journey has met with stiff competition from the reigning Bollywood spy thriller, 'Dhurandhar', which continues to hold strong audience interest.
Steady Earnings Amidst Fierce Competition
Released on December 19, 2025, the third chapter of James Cameron's epic sci-fi saga has shown consistent performance over its first five days. While initial projections suggested it might cool the 'Dhurandhar' fever, the Bollywood film has proven resilient. The weekend numbers for 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' indicated potential, but the weekday collections revealed the challenge of sustaining momentum against a popular local contender.
According to industry reports from Sacnilk, the film's total collection in India now stands at an impressive Rs 85.50 crore. The fifth day, Tuesday, December 23, saw a slight uptick with earnings of Rs 9.25 crore, compared to Rs 9 crore on Monday. This brings the five-day total comfortably past the Rs 80 crore milestone.
Day-by-Day Box Office Breakdown
The film's collections peaked on its first Sunday, demonstrating strong audience turnout over the opening weekend. Here is a detailed look at the day-wise earnings for 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' in India:
- Day 1 (Friday): Rs 19 crore
- Day 2 (Saturday): Rs 22.5 crore
- Day 3 (Sunday): Rs 25.75 crore
- Day 4 (Monday): Rs 9 crore
- Day 5 (Tuesday): Rs 9.25 crore
The occupancy rate for the English version on Tuesday was reported at 20.84%, indicating a steady stream of viewers in multiplexes.
Global Dominance and Future of the Franchise
While navigating a competitive landscape in India, 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' has been ruling the global box office charts. The film is the latest installment in a franchise that began in December 2009, followed by a sequel in December 2022. Director James Cameron has already laid out plans for the future, with the fourth and fifth parts announced and in various stages of production. Fans can expect these sequels to hit theatres in 2029 and 2031, respectively.
The road ahead in India gets more crowded as Kartik Aaryan's new film, 'Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri', is set for release this coming weekend, adding another layer of competition. The performance of 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' in its second weekend will be crucial to determine its long-term success against these formidable Bollywood releases.
