The cinematic journey of James Cameron's 'Avatar: Fire And Ash' in Indian theatres is experiencing a familiar second-week turbulence. After a powerful opening, the film's collections have seen a significant dip, though a weekend surge provided some respite.
A Rollercoaster Second Week
The film's second Friday in India told a starkly different story from its debut, registering the lowest single-day collection so far at just Rs 7.65 crore. This sharp decline highlighted the challenges of maintaining momentum. However, the familiar weekend magic kicked in, with early estimates for the second Saturday (Day 9) showing an improvement. The film reportedly added Rs 9.50 crore to its total, bringing the overall India net collection to approximately Rs 126.65 crore.
Occupancy data for December 27 reveals where the audience interest lies. The English shows led the way with a 48.14% occupancy rate, with evening screenings being the most favoured. The Hindi dubbed version recorded 32.50% occupancy, while the Telugu version followed with 26.25%.
Day-by-Day Box Office Breakdown
Here is a detailed look at the film's daily earnings in India:
- Day 1 (1st Friday): Rs 19 crore
- Day 2 (1st Saturday): Rs 22.5 crore
- Day 3 (1st Sunday): Rs 25.75 crore
- Day 4 (1st Monday): Rs 9 crore
- Day 5 (1st Tuesday): Rs 9.25 crore
- Day 6 (1st Wednesday): Rs 10.65 crore
- Day 7 (1st Thursday): Rs 13.35 crore
- Day 8 (2nd Friday): Rs 7.65 crore
- Day 9 (2nd Saturday): Rs 9.50 crore (early estimates)
The total collection after nine days stands at Rs 126.65 crore.
James Cameron on the Franchise's Future
The film's performance is being closely watched, as it may influence the future of the ambitious 'Avatar' saga. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, visionary director James Cameron addressed the possibility of the series not continuing beyond the third installment. He stated that the business case for each film must be proven upon release.
"I don't know if the saga goes beyond this point. I hope it does," Cameron said. "But, you know, we prove that business case every time we go out...If we don't get to make 4 and 5, for whatever reason, I'll hold a press conference, and I'll tell you what we were gonna do. How's that?"
This candid remark puts the spotlight on the box office performance of 'Avatar: Fire And Ash' as a key determinant for the greenlighting of the already-planned fourth and fifth chapters. The Indian market, being a significant contributor to global box office revenue, will play a crucial role in this decision.
