“Avatar: Fire and Ash,” the third installment in James Cameron’s blockbuster sci-fi franchise, is continuing its strong global box office run as it heads into its fourth full weekend in cinemas. The film has officially crossed the $1 billion mark worldwide and is now closing in on $1.1 billion in total grosses.

At the time of writing, the film has earned approximately $315 million domestically and $779 million internationally, cementing its status as one of the highest-grossing releases of the year. In doing so, it has overtaken both the domestic and global box office totals of Thor: Ragnarok (2017), the Chris Hemsworth-led Marvel entry widely regarded as the strongest of the four Thor films during the MCU’s Infinity Saga.

In North America, Fire and Ash has steadily climbed past several major franchise benchmarks. After surpassing $300 million domestically, it first overtook Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. More recently, with a domestic total of roughly $318 million, it edged past the $316 million lifetime domestic gross of Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi. Released in 1983 and directed by Richard Marquand, Return of the Jedi concluded the original Star Wars trilogy and starred Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher. Harrison Ford’s return as Han Solo was initially uncertain due to contract negotiations, and early story drafts even considered killing off the character — a fate that ultimately occurred decades later in The Force Awakens.

For the Avatar franchise, Fire and Ash marks another major milestone, becoming the third entry in the series to cross $1 billion globally. Both Avatar (2009) and Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) went on to surpass $2 billion, a threshold Fire and Ash is not expected to reach. Nevertheless, with a reported production budget of around $400 million for Disney and 20th Century Studios, the film is projected to deliver substantial profits — a key factor in determining the franchise’s long-term future.

Critical reception has been mixed compared to earlier entries. The film currently holds a 66% score on Rotten Tomatoes, a more muted response when compared with the generally warmer retrospective reception of Return of the Jedi, which introduced enduring elements such as the Ewoks and Boba Fett. Fire and Ash, however, expands Pandora’s mythology with the introduction of the Mangkwan, a new fire-wielding Na’vi clan.

The film’s commercial success carries significant implications for the franchise. James Cameron has previously indicated that Avatar 4, originally penciled in for 2029, was not guaranteed and would depend heavily on the box office performance of Fire and Ash. With the $1 billion milestone now secured, confidence has grown that the fourth installment will move forward as planned.

As for streaming, Disney has yet to announce an official release date, with the film still generating strong theatrical revenue. Based on the release pattern of The Way of Water, Fire and Ash is tentatively expected to arrive on Disney+ around June, following a window on premium VOD platforms such as Prime Video and Fandango at Home. This timeline could shift depending on how long the film sustains its theatrical momentum.

Rated PG-13, Avatar: Fire and Ash falls within the science-fiction, adventure, and fantasy genres. The film was released on December 19, 2025, runs for 197 minutes, and is directed by James Cameron, who co-wrote the screenplay alongside Amanda Silver, Rick Jaffa, Josh Friedman, and Shane Salerno. Cameron also produced the film with Jon Landau. Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña reprise their roles as Jake Sully and Neytiri, continuing their journey from Avatar and The Way of Water.