The long-awaited third chapter in James Cameron’s Pandora saga, Avatar: Fire and Ash, officially hit Indian theaters on Friday, December 19, 2025. While the film arrived with the weight of massive expectations, its opening day performance has painted a complex picture—showcasing a solid but significantly lower start compared to its 2022 predecessor, Avatar: The Way of Water.
The India Box Office Breakdown
According to real-time data from industry tracker Sacnilk, the film saw a steady climb throughout its opening Friday:
- Current Standing: As of 9:00 PM IST, Avatar: Fire and Ash collected approximately ₹15.67 crore net across all languages in India.
- Closing Projections: Trade analysts expect the final Day 1 tally to settle between ₹18 crore and ₹20 crore.
- The Record Gap: While these are healthy numbers for most Hollywood releases, they pale in comparison to The Way of Water, which shattered records with a ₹48.75 crore opening day in India.
Why the Dip? Competition and Critical Backlash
Several factors appear to be dampening the “Fire” of the latest installment:
- The ‘Dhurandhar’ Dominance: Ranveer Singh’s action spectacle Dhurandhar continues its historic run, having already crossed ₹450 crore net. Its iron grip on North Indian theaters has notably dented Avatar 3’s prospects outside of metropolitan centers.
- Franchise-Low Reviews: The film debuted with a 69%–71% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the lowest in the trilogy. Critics have slammed the 3-hour, 17-minute epic as a “hunk of nonsense” with repetitive plot beats.
- The Visual vs. Story Debate: While the Hindustan Times review praised the “breathtaking visuals,” it noted that the film feels like an “assembly line edition” with “characters as deep as a ChatGPT response.”
Fans Still Choose the Big Screen
Despite the critical lukewarmness, the franchise’s loyal fanbase remains undeterred. Advance bookings were phenomenal, with over 3.5 lakh tickets sold before the first show. Fans on social media argue that James Cameron’s work “demands” an IMAX or 4DX experience, focusing on the introduction of the aggressive Ash People and the villainous Varang (played by Oona Chaplin).
With 6.5 lakh tickets already sold for the opening weekend, the film is banking on its technical mastery to drive long-term footfalls, even if it lacks the “novelty factor” of the previous films.
About Avatar: Fire and Ash
Directed by James Cameron, the film stars Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña, reprising their roles as Jake Sully and Neytiri. The story follows the Sully family as they encounter a new, volatile Na’vi tribe known as the Mangkwan (the Ash People), following the tragic events of the second film.