James Cameron’s Sci-Fi Epic ‘Fire and Ash’ Surpasses $1 Billion Worldwide
Hollywood commenced 2026 with a strong box office performance driven by “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” This film, directed by James Cameron, has grossed over $1 billion globally in just three weeks. With earnings of $40 million during its third weekend, “Fire and Ash” secured the top spot in North American theaters.
International Success of “Fire and Ash”
The film’s international revenue is particularly impressive, amassing $777.1 million outside the United States. The Walt Disney Co. heralded this achievement as another landmark moment for Cameron’s pioneering franchise.
Holiday Season Boost
The holiday season contributed significantly to box office sales, with schools on break. Other films that helped drive ticket sales included “Zootopia 2,” starring Sydney Sweeney and Timothée Chalamet.
Top Performers During the Holidays
- “Zootopia 2”: Generated $19 million, a slight 4% decline from the previous weekend. It has reached $1.59 billion globally, ranking as Disney’s second highest-grossing animated film.
- “The Housemaid”: The thriller featuring Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried earned $14.9 million, totaling $75.7 million domestically over three weeks.
- “Marty Supreme”: This A24 release grossed $12.6 million, accumulating $56 million in North America.
Overall Box Office Trends
Overall earnings for the holiday weekend showed a 26.5% increase compared to the same time in 2025. The film industry is rebounding after a lackluster year in 2025, where ticket sales only amounted to $8.9 billion—a 2% increase from the previous year but still significantly below pre-pandemic levels.
Future Outlook for 2026
The movie industry is optimistic about 2026, given its promising slate of releases. Anticipated films from franchises like “Toy Story,” “Avengers,” and “Dune” could transform the box office landscape.
Top 10 Domestic Movies this Weekend
| Rank | Movie Title | Weekend Gross |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avatar: Fire and Ash | $40 million |
| 2 | Zootopia 2 | $19 million |
| 3 | The Housemaid | $14.9 million |
| 4 | Marty Supreme | $12.6 million |
| 5 | Anaconda | $10 million |
| 6 | The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants | $8.2 million |
| 7 | David | $8 million |
| 8 | Song Sung Blue | $5.9 million |
| 9 | Wicked: For Good | $3.3 million |
| 10 | Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 | $2.7 million |
The 2026 box office begins with promise, spotlighting “Avatar: Fire and Ash” as a leading force in cinema recovery.
