Avatar 3: A Global Box Office Powerhouse

James Cameron's latest epic, "Avatar: Fire and Ash, " is making waves at the box office. The movie raked in $12 million from early preview screenings in the U. S. on its opening day. While this is impressive, it's worth noting that the second film, "The Way of Water, " had a stronger start with $17 million in its first day. Experts are predicting that "Fire and Ash" will bring in at least $100 million during its opening weekend in the U. S. and Canada. This is a big deal because the film's performance will have a significant impact on the year's overall box office totals. The Avatar franchise is a unique beast in Hollywood. It has made a ton of money, but it hasn't quite reached the cultural phenomenon status of Star Wars or the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Despite this, both the original "Avatar" and "The Way of Water" have crossed the $2 billion mark globally, with the first film close to $3 billion.One of the reasons for the franchise's success is James Cameron's reputation. Audiences expect big visuals, sound, and storytelling from his films. They deliver on these expectations, which is why people are willing to pay top dollar for premium tickets, like IMAX and Dolby, to watch them in theaters. Internationally, the Avatar films have been even more successful. The original "Avatar" made over $2 billion outside of the U. S. , with a significant chunk coming from China. This is partly due to the popularity of 3D films in those markets. While 3D has lost some of its appeal in the U. S. , it remains a big draw elsewhere. The preview sales for "Fire and Ash" in international markets, excluding China, were $43. 1 million. In China, early estimates suggest an opening day of around $17. 1 million, which would be the third-highest for a Motion Picture Association film since "The Way of Water. " While "Fire and Ash" might not have the same opening weekend as its predecessor, experts believe it's all about the long game. Cameron's films tend to have long theatrical runs, and their international performance often outweighs their domestic one.