Well, folks, it appears that congratulations are (almost) in order. James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water is reportedly on the verge of breaking even, after earning $1.38 billion (£1.15 billion) in ticket sales.
According to Variety, Cameron said the film needs to make $2 billion to meet his goal—but let’s rewind a bit first. The director's long-overdue return to Pandora debuted on December 16, and quickly became a splash hit at the box office. In just three weeks, the film saw a monumental audience turnout, despite frigid temperatures and holiday gatherings that threatened to keet viewers at home. Apparently, the Avatar fandom runs deep! If fans continue to show up in theaters to revisit Jake Sully and the Na’vi, ticket sales could hit the coveted $2 billion mark. That number might sound astronomical, but it’s certainly within reason. In 2009, the first Avatar film earned $3 billion (£2.5 billion) in sales, becoming the highest-grossing movie of all time. If Cameron gets his wish, The Way of Water could follow close behind.
Cameron celebrated the film's success in a recent Instagram post. "Hi, Jim Cameron here," he said in a video to his followers. "I wanted to thank all of our fans for coming out to see Avatar: The Way of Water in Theaters, where it was always meant to be seen and experienced. For me, this film has been a deeply personal journey, so it’s incredibly gratifying that alread, so many of you have watched it on the big screen. As the Na’vi say, 'Oel Ngati Kameie.' I see you.”
Avatar: The Way of Water will be in cinemas for at least a few more weeks, before it eventually moves to a streaming service. If you plan to catch it on the big screen, buckle in for an epic, three-hour-long journey. And don't worry. You can run to the toilet right after the final shot.
Bria McNeal is a Manhattan based journalist who is patiently awaiting B5's revival. When she's not writing about all things entertainment, she can be found watching TV or trying to DIY something (likely, at the same time). Her work has appeared in NYLON, Refinery29, InStyle, and her personal newsletter, StirCrazy.
