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Google PlayAvatar: The Way of Water has emerged as the top-grossing film of 2022.
Since its release nearly three weeks ago, the James Cameron-directed sequel has generated about $454 million domestically and $1 billion worldwide, making it the No. 10-top grossing film of all time, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The newly released figures put Avatar 2 ahead of Top Gun: Maverick, which has raked in nearly $1.5 billion in ticket sales since its debut in May of last year.
THR reports the 20th Century Studios/Disney film is now the second highest grosser of the pandemic era, trailing 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home ($1.916 billion). The original Avatar, also directed by Cameron, debuted in 2009 and is now the highest-grossing film of all time—thanks in large part to multiple re-releases. The first installment has earned $2.9 billion in sales,
By comparison, 2019’s Avengers: Endgame is the second-highest grossing film in history with about $2.8 billion, while Cameron’s 1997 film Titanic stands at No. 3 with $2.2 billion.
Considering its massive and rapid success, Avatar 2 will undoubtedly hit the $2 billion mark, making it the sixth film in history to ever do so. Other projects that have reached the milestone are Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens ($2.069 billion), and Avengers: Infinity War ($2.048 billion).
During a November 2022 interview with GQ, Cameron spoke about the Avatar 2 budget (approximately $250 million) and how it represented “the worst business case in movie history.” He told the magazine that the much-anticipated sequel would have to become “the third or fourth highest-grossing film in history” in order to be profitable.
“That’s your threshold. That’s your break even,” he said.
Avatar 2 stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winslet, and Stephen Lang. and has already nabbed numerous accolades, including Golden Globe nominations for Best Motion Picture-Drama and Best Director.
