"Avatar: Fire and Ash," also referred to as Avatar 3, is making significant waves at the global box office, preparing to enter its fourth full weekend in theaters. The film recently achieved the coveted $1 billion milestone in global gross, and at the time of writing, it has accumulated just under $1.1 billion worldwide, consisting of $315 million domestically and $779 million internationally. This impressive performance has allowed it to surpass both the domestic and worldwide totals of "Thor: Ragnarok," the 2017 Chris Hemsworth-led Marvel film widely acclaimed as the best of the four Thor movies in the MCU's Infinity Saga.

Domestically, "Avatar: Fire and Ash" has also overtaken two major Star Wars blockbusters. After reaching the $300 million mark, it first surpassed "Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones." More recently, with $318 million at the domestic box office, it has exceeded the $316 million lifetime domestic haul of "Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi." Released in 1983 and directed by Richard Marquand, "Return of the Jedi" was the third installment of the original Star Wars trilogy, featuring Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher. Notably, Harrison Ford's return as Han Solo was initially uncertain due to his contract, and there were plans for the character to die a heroic death, a fate that ultimately did not occur until "Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens."

"Avatar: Fire and Ash" represents a remarkable achievement for the franchise, as it marks the third "Avatar" movie to gross over $1 billion at the global box office. The first two installments, "Avatar" (2009) and "Avatar: The Way of Water" (2022), both soared past the $2 billion mark, though "Fire and Ash" is tracking to fall short of that particular benchmark. Despite a reported budget of around $400 million for Disney and 20th Century, the film is poised to be a major profit generator, a crucial factor for the future of the series.

The film's critical reception has been somewhat lukewarm, standing at a 66% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, contrasting with the generally positive reviews received by "Return of the Jedi," which is remembered for introducing elements like the Ewoks and Boba Fett. "Avatar: Fire and Ash," however, introduces a whole new tribe of Na'vi, the fire-wielding Mangkwan.

The success of "Avatar: Fire and Ash" is particularly significant as director James Cameron had previously stated that a fourth "Avatar" film, initially slated for 2029, was no longer a certainty and would depend heavily on this film's box office performance. With the movie clearing $1 billion, hopes are high that it has secured the future for "Avatar 4." As for its streaming availability, Disney has yet to make an official announcement, given that the film continues to earn millions in theaters. However, based on the release pattern of "Avatar: The Way of Water," "Fire and Ash" is tentatively expected to premiere on Disney+ sometime in June, following a run on VOD platforms like Prime Video and Fandango at Home. The timeline might be adjusted if its box office performance finishes lower than its predecessor.

"Avatar: Fire and Ash" is rated PG-13 and falls under the Science Fiction Adventure Fantasy genres. It was released on December 19, 2025, and has a runtime of 197 minutes. James Cameron directed the film and contributed to the writing alongside Amanda Silver, Rick Jaffa, Josh Friedman, and Shane Salerno. Jon Landau and James Cameron served as producers. The cast includes Sam Worthington as Jake Sully and Zoe Saldana as Neytiri, reprising their roles from the prequels "Avatar" and "Avatar: The Way of Water."