Director James Cameron‘s long-awaited Avatar – The Way of the Water grossed $17 million in its first showings in theatres in the United States and Canada on Thursday night, Reuters reported, citing the Walt Disney Company, which distributes the production.
With worldwide receipts, the sequel to the highest-grossing film ever made has generated a total of US$50.4 million. In some cinemas around the world, the production debuted on Wednesday.
The film’s opening night in North America fell short of that of Disney’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which grossed $28 million in its November premiere.
The big question in Hollywood is whether Avatar – The Way of the Water can recoup its huge production and marketing costs. Studios split ticket sales with theatres, and director Cameron told GQ magazine that the film needs to generate at least $2 billion to be profitable.
First-run sales are not always indicative of final results, especially around the Christmas holidays.
Avatar – The Way of the Water came out 13 years after the first film, which wowed audiences with pioneering 3D technology. It remains the all-time box office leader with ticket sales of US$2.9 billion worldwide.
In the sequel, actors Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana return as Jake Sully and Neytiri, but ten years later. They are the parents of five children, and the family is trying to survive underwater.
