The much-anticipated Hollywood sequel, Avatar: Fire and Ash, has demonstrated a steady, if not spectacular, start at the Indian box office over its opening weekend. While the film has shown positive growth from its first to second day, its performance is being closely watched against the towering success of the Bollywood spy thriller, Dhurandhar.
India Box Office: Steady Growth But Short of Expectations
In India, the sci-fi epic opened on Friday, Day 1, with a net collection of ₹19 crore. The earnings were primarily driven by screenings in English and Hindi. Showing an encouraging trend, the film's collections jumped by 17.63% on Saturday, Day 2, to reach ₹22.35 crore. This brings the total two-day India net collection to ₹41.35 crore.
Despite this growth, industry analysts note that the numbers for a franchise of this magnitude are below initial expectations. The early trend suggests a moderate level of interest from Indian audiences. Notably, the film opened at the number one position in most major international markets but did not secure the top spot in India, where it was outperformed by a local contender.
Global Dominance vs. Domestic Competition
Globally, James Cameron's vision continues to draw massive crowds. Avatar: Fire and Ash crossed the $100 million (approx. ₹900 crore) mark at the international box office within its first three days. The film is now heading towards a global opening weekend of around $350 million, according to industry tracker Deadline.
The film recorded the biggest opening day of 2025 in several key markets, including Australia, France, Germany, and Italy. Top contributing markets so far include:
- China: ₹154 crore (by Friday)
- France: ₹78 crore
- Germany: ₹74 crore
- Korea: ₹87 crore (total)
- India: ₹41.35 crore (2-day total)
However, the film's journey in India is contrasted sharply by the runaway success of Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar. On its 16th day (Saturday), Dhurandhar earned a massive ₹33.5 crore, witnessing a jump of nearly 49% from its previous day. Its India net total has now soared past ₹515 crore, with a worldwide collection standing at ₹739.5 crore until Friday.
Long-Term Prospects and Audience Reception
Made on a staggering budget of approximately ₹2,200 crore, Avatar: Fire and Ash carries significant financial weight. The franchise is historically known for its strong long-term and legs at the box office, rather than just explosive openings. This factor, combined with the beginning of the holiday season and overwhelmingly positive early audience reviews from overseas and the US, fuels expectations of sustained performance.
The film has been released worldwide except in Hong Kong, where it is scheduled for January 8. While its global opening is on the lower side of early predictions, the industry is betting on the film's ability to attract audiences over several weeks, a pattern established by its predecessors.
In conclusion, while Avatar: Fire and Ash has made a respectable entry in India with clear day-on-day growth, it finds itself in the shadow of a dominant local blockbuster. The true test for the Hollywood threequel will be its holding power in the coming weeks, both in India and across the globe, as it navigates competitive market dynamics.
