James Cameron's much-anticipated sci-fi sequel, 'Avatar: Fire and Ash,' has hit a significant roadblock at the Indian box office. The film, which had been maintaining a steady performance, experienced a drastic decline in its collections on the second Monday of its release, marking a worrying trend for its theatrical run.
Sharp Decline on Day 11
According to early estimates from industry tracker Sacnilk, 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' earned approximately Rs 4.75 crore net across all languages on its 11th day. This figure represents the film's lowest single-day collection since its premiere. The drop is particularly stark, with collections falling by nearly 50% compared to previous days. While the film's daily earnings had already entered single-digit territory, this is the first time it has dipped below the Rs 5 crore mark.
Total Collections and Weekly Performance
The film concluded its opening week on a strong note, amassing Rs 109.5 crore net. However, momentum has slowed considerably in the second week. The partial tally for week two currently stands at around Rs 33.15 crore. With the addition of the latest figures, the total estimated net collection for India has reached Rs 142.65 crore. In gross terms, the film has earned an estimated Rs 174 crore nationwide.
Language-Wise Breakdown and Comparison
The contribution from different language versions paints a clear picture of the film's audience distribution.
- English: Leading the pack with an estimated Rs 62 crore net.
- Hindi: A close second, contributing approximately Rs 47.1 crore.
- Tamil: Has garnered around Rs 20.78 crore.
- Telugu (dubbed): Stands at an estimated Rs 12.34 crore.
- Kannada & Malayalam: Have not crossed the Rs 1 crore mark, with collections of about Rs 43 lakh and Rs 15 lakh respectively.
Despite being the highest-grossing Hollywood release in India for 2025 so far, 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' is performing well below pre-release expectations. Trade analysts had initially projected the film could cross the monumental Rs 500 crore mark, a target it now seems unlikely to achieve. The film is expected to eventually cross the Rs 200 crore gross mark, but its pace has slowed.
The sequel also trails its predecessor, 'Avatar: The Way of Water,' by a significant margin. The 2023 release had collected a massive Rs 193.6 crore in its first week alone, followed by Rs 100.5 crore in week two. It eventually concluded its Indian run with a net total of Rs 391.4 crore, setting a high benchmark that the new installment is struggling to match.
The sharp drop on Monday indicates a cooling of audience interest and suggests the film may have exhausted its core fan base in the initial days. Its ability to attract family audiences and sustain shows in the coming weeks will be crucial for its final tally.
