Disney Opens ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Ticket Sales as Global Tracking Hits $600 Million

Global box office projections for James Cameron’s ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ have surged following Disney’s launch of advance ticket sales early this morning. The studio confirmed at 9:00 AM EST that the third installment in the sci-fi franchise has secured a day-and-date release in mainland China, a critical market that contributed $246 million to the previous film’s gross. Initial tracking data from EntTelligence indicates that first-hour presales have outpaced ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ by 40%, crashing servers at both AMC Theatres and Fandango for approximately 15 minutes.

The China Film Group’s approval of the December 19 release date removes a significant variable for 20th Century Studios, allowing for a unified global marketing push over the next four weeks. Analysts predict the film is poised for a worldwide opening weekend between $550 million and $600 million, bolstered by expanded Imax screen counts in the Asian market. “The simultaneous entry into China guarantees immediate liquidity for exhibitors,” remarked media analyst Robert Chen. “Unlike 2022, where COVID restrictions in Shanghai dampened the opening, the market is fully open and prioritizing Hollywood’s premium formats.”

Exhibitors are now facing a “logistical Tetris” as they attempt to allocate premium large-format (PLF) screens for December. With ‘Wicked: For Good’ and ‘Zootopia 2’ currently commanding the Thanksgiving corridor, theater chains must pivot rapidly to accommodate the 192-minute runtime of the new Pandora epic. Regal Cinemas has reportedly instructed managers to dedicate 100% of their RPX auditoriums to ‘Fire and Ash’ starting with 3:00 PM previews on December 18, effectively displacing holdover screenings of the musical competition.

New details regarding the film’s technical specifications were also released to vendors today to aid in projection planning. The “Ash People” sequences, featuring Oona Chaplin, utilize a new high-frame-rate variable (48fps) that requires specific calibration for laser projectors. Disney has deployed technical teams to 500 key locations across North America this week to ensure compliance, a costly measure that underscores the studio’s reliance on the film to anchor its Q4 earnings.