"Avatar 3" Surpasses $1 Billion in 18 Days... Slower Pace Than Previous Films

Disney Achieves Three $1 Billion Releases Last Year

Movie 'Avatar: Bulgwae Jae' Still Cut

The Walt Disney Company announced on January 4 (local time) that the film "Avatar: Bulgwae Jae (Avatar 3)" has surpassed $1 billion in global box office revenue. As of that day, the cumulative sales reached $1.0831 billion (approximately 1.5662 trillion KRW).

This milestone was achieved in just 18 days since its release in North America on December 19. However, the pace is slightly slower compared to previous installments. The previous film, "Avatar: The Way of Water," reached the $1 billion mark in 14 days, while the first "Avatar" achieved it in 17 days.

This box office success was driven by overseas markets. While North American revenue stood at $306 million, international revenue reached $777.1 million. By country, China led with $138 million, followed by France ($81 million), Germany ($64 million), and Korea ($44 million). Since the previous installments earned $2.1 billion and $1.6 billion overseas respectively, whether this latest film joins the "$2 billion club" will also depend on international audiences.

Disney has demonstrated its overwhelming market dominance with this box office performance. Among last year's releases, "Zootopia 2," "Lilo & Stitch," and "Avatar 3"-all of which surpassed $1 billion-were Disney productions. While competitors have failed to produce a $1 billion blockbuster since 2023, Disney surpassed $6.5 billion in annual revenue for the first time since the pandemic.

This achievement is also significant for director James Cameron. Including "Titanic," four of his films have now surpassed the $1 billion mark. However, he remains cautious about the sustainability of the franchise. In a recent local interview, he stated, "To continue with the fourth and fifth installments, this film must clearly prove its commercial viability."