James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash debuted in theatres in India on Friday, three years after the second film Way of Water hit screens. The long wait, combined with the anticipation for the film, boosted box office revenue to register over Rs 20 crore in collections across the country. However, the number falls short of the mammoth revenue Way of Water collected in 2022. Back then, the film minted over Rs 50 crore on its opening day.
Worldwide, the film has already breached over $84 million in revenue and is eyeing the $100 million milestone at the end of its first weekend in theatres. Out of the $84 million, over $43.1 million came from international markets, according to Deadline.
The third part in the blockbuster franchise, Avatar: Fire and Ash begins with Jake and Neytiri's family grappling with grief after Neteyam's death. During the same time, they encounter a new, aggressive Na'vi tribe called the Ash people, led by the fiery tribe leader, Varang, who has allied with Jake's enemy, Quaritch, as the conflict on Pandora escalates to devastating consequences.
Returning for Avatar: Fire and Ash, are Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Britain Dalton, Trinity Bliss, Jack Champion, Bailey Bass, and Kate Winslet. Oona Chaplin, known for playing Talisa Maegyr in Game of Thrones, is portraying the antagonist Varang, the leader of the Ash People. David Thewlis, who is known for playing Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter franchise, playing Peylak in the film. Upon release, the film has been receiving mixed reviews from fans and audiences who have praised Pandora's expansive world, cinematography and world buiding, while criticising its storyline.
Our CE review of the film read, "It is this audacity of the filmmaker that becomes the relentless pulse that still beats life into this ever-expanding story. The biggest strength of Avatar is that it stirs the ancient instinct in the back of our minds to find the perfect world, where rocks float, plants light up in the dark, animals talk to you, and connecting with others is as simple as tethering the neural fibres growing out from the back of your head."
