James Cameron's much-hyped cinematic spectacle, 'Avatar: Fire and Ash,' has not managed to capture the Indian box office in the way many analysts predicted, failing to dethrone the domestic blockbuster 'Dhurandhar.' The film, while holding steady through its second weekend, has experienced a significant decline in audience turnout starting its second week.
Steady Start Followed by Sharp Decline
The third installment in the groundbreaking sci-fi franchise opened strong but could not maintain its initial momentum. According to industry reports, the film witnessed a huge drop in collections from its second Monday (Day 11) onwards. On its twelfth day in theaters, which was the second Tuesday, 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' added approximately Rs 5.25 crore to its India total.
This brings the film's cumulative net collection in the Indian market to Rs 148.15 crore. The day-wise earnings trajectory tells the story of a film that started with promise but quickly normalized.
Day-wise Box Office Collection in India (in Rs crore)
- Day 1 (1st Friday): 19.00
- Day 2 (1st Saturday): 22.50
- Day 3 (1st Sunday): 25.75
- Day 4 (1st Monday): 9.00
- Day 5 (1st Tuesday): 9.25
- Day 6 (1st Wednesday): 10.65
- Day 7 (1st Thursday): 13.35
- Week 1 Total: 109.50
- Day 8 (2nd Friday): 7.65
- Day 9 (2nd Saturday): 10.00
- Day 10 (2nd Sunday): 10.75
- Day 11 (2nd Monday): 5.00
- Day 12 (2nd Tuesday): 5.25
- Total Collection (12 Days): 148.15
How Does It Compare to 'Avatar: The Way of Water'?
The performance of 'Fire and Ash' pales in comparison to its predecessor's phenomenal run in India. 'Avatar: The Way of Water' (Avatar 2) enjoyed a massive opening and sustained collections, benefiting from a 16-year wait and a lack of major competition from Indian films at the time.
Here is a snapshot of Avatar 2's first 12 days in India, which starkly highlights the difference:
- Day 1 Collection: Rs 40.3 crore (vs. Avatar 3's Rs 19 crore)
- Week 1 Total: Rs 193.6 crore (vs. Avatar 3's Rs 109.5 crore)
- 12-Day Total: Rs 274.95 crore (vs. Avatar 3's Rs 148.15 crore)
The second film's total after nearly two weeks was almost double that of the latest chapter, indicating a clear cooling of audience enthusiasm for the franchise in the Indian market.
Global Performance and Film Details
On the worldwide stage, 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' continues to perform robustly. As per Box Office Mojo, the film has grossed a staggering USD 794 million globally. This includes USD 216.91 million from the United States and USD 577.2 million from international markets.
Directed by James Cameron, the film features returning stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, and Kate Winslet. It was released worldwide in theaters on December 19, 2025.
The Indian box office narrative for 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' is one of unmet expectations. Despite its global tech wizardry, it could not replicate the historic success of its predecessor or overpower a strong local contender, settling for a respectable but not earth-shattering total.
