James Cameron Set to Surpass Box Office Legends

James Cameron’s latest cinematic venture, Avatar: Fire and Ash, is rapidly approaching the $1 billion threshold at the global box office. This achievement would mark yet another billion-dollar success for Cameron, whose previous three films—including the earlier Avatar entries—each crossed that impressive mark. Should Fire and Ash reach $2 billion, it would become his fourth consecutive film to do so, a feat unmatched by any other director.

Box Office Milestones and Industry Comparisons

In the world of blockbuster filmmaking, Cameron’s record stands apart. While Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park is his sole entry in the billion-dollar club, and Martin Scorsese has yet to join it, Cameron’s string of hits is remarkable. His current run includes:

• Titanic (1997) – $2.257 billion
• Avatar (2009) – $2.9 billion
• Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) – $2.343 billion

At present, Cameron shares the distinction of three consecutive billion-dollar films with the Russo brothers, whose trio of Marvel blockbusters—Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame—also achieved this milestone. However, with Fire and Ash on track, Cameron is poised to move ahead.

Current Performance and Box Office Prospects

Recent figures indicate that Fire and Ash earned $70 million globally on Friday alone, with projections suggesting a total of $750 million to $800 million by Sunday and a billion by the following Friday. Domestically, the film has amassed $84 million over four days, outpacing competitors such as Zootopia 2 and Marty Supreme during the year’s final box office weekend.

In its second weekend, the film experienced a 33% drop in takings—a notably smaller decline than Avatar: The Way of Water’s 52% fall in 2022, though not quite matching the original Avatar’s minimal 1.8% dip in 2009. To date, Fire and Ash has collected $153.7 million domestically and $390.6 million internationally, totalling $544.3 million worldwide. Despite this strong showing, reaching $2 billion remains a considerable challenge.

Comparing the Avatar Franchise

The latest instalment’s domestic opening of $89.1 million falls short of The Way of Water’s $134.1 million, but surpasses the original Avatar’s $77 million debut. The first film’s exceptional word-of-mouth propelled it to $2.9 billion, while the sequel, despite a stronger start, finished at $2.343 billion. Fire and Ash’s reviews have been less enthusiastic, which may hinder its chances of matching its predecessors’ totals.

With a production budget exceeding $400 million, Fire and Ash ranks among the most expensive films ever made. Returning cast members include Zoe Saldaña and Sam Worthington, reprising their roles as Neytiri and Jake Sully, with Oona Chaplin joining as Varang, leader of the Ash People.

Critical Reception and Cameron’s Filmography

Fire and Ash currently holds the lowest critical rating of any of Cameron’s theatrical releases, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 66% from over 300 reviews. The site’s consensus notes:

Remaining on the cutting edge of visual effects, Fire and Ash repeats the narrative beats of its predecessors to frustrating effect, but its grand spectacle continues to stoke one-of-a-kind thrills.

Audience response, however, has been far more positive, with a 90% approval rating. On Metacritic, the film scores 62 out of 100 based on 50 critic reviews. While the visuals, characters, and action sequences have been widely praised, many critics have found the plot rather simplistic.

For comparison, the original Avatar received an 81% critical score, and The Way of Water achieved 76%. Cameron’s highest-rated film remains Aliens (1986), with a 94% score. According to one review, Fire and Ash is “the best, most emotional Avatar yet,” with particular praise for the emotional depth and personal stakes Cameron brings to this third entry.

Avatar: Fire and Ash is currently showing in cinemas from 19 December 2025. The previous two entries are available to stream on Disney+.