James Cameron's much-anticipated sci-fi spectacle, 'Avatar: Fire and Ash', continues its cinematic journey in India, demonstrating steady performance despite facing formidable competition from the Bollywood blockbuster 'Dhurandhar'. Released on December 19, 2025, the third installment of the 'Avatar' franchise has now crossed a significant milestone in the Indian market.
Christmas Cheer Boosts 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' Collections
The film witnessed a welcome surge in its box office numbers on the Christmas holiday. According to industry reports from Sacnilk, 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' collected ₹13.50 crore on its seventh day in theatres, which was Christmas Day, December 25, 2025. This festive boost has propelled the film's total earnings in India to an impressive ₹109.65 crore.
The occupancy rates reflected the holiday spirit, with the film recording an overall 56.51% occupancy in English shows across the country on Thursday. The day-wise collection trajectory in India showcases the film's performance over its first week:
- Day 1 (Friday, Dec 19): ₹19 crore
- Day 2 (Saturday): ₹22.5 crore
- Day 3 (Sunday): ₹25.75 crore
- Day 4 (Monday): ₹9 crore
- Day 5 (Tuesday): ₹9.25 crore
- Day 6 (Wednesday): ₹10.65 crore
- Day 7 (Thursday, Christmas): ₹13.50 crore
Fierce Competition from Bollywood's 'Dhurandhar'
The box office battle presents an interesting narrative. While the Hollywood epic was initially expected to dominate, the Ranveer Singh-starrer espionage thriller 'Dhurandhar' has emerged as a powerhouse. On the same Christmas day, 'Dhurandhar' earned a massive ₹26 crore, taking its staggering total collection in India to ₹633.50 crore over 21 days.
This highlights the strong hold of the Bollywood film, which has managed to captivate audiences amidst the release of a global franchise. The performance of both films side-by-side underscores the diverse appetite of Indian cinema-goers.
Global Footprint and Future of the Franchise
On the worldwide stage, 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' has garnered USD 483.3 million (approximately over ₹4,000 crore). Given the film's reported production budget of over USD 400 million, it has just about recovered its substantial investment at the global box office so far.
The film marks the return of franchise stalwarts Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, and Kate Winslet in their iconic roles. Looking ahead, James Cameron has already charted the future course for Pandora. The fourth and fifth installments of the 'Avatar' series are reportedly in different stages of production, with planned release dates in 2029 and 2031, respectively.
As the holiday season continues, it remains to be seen how 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' fares in the coming weeks against the enduring popularity of 'Dhurandhar' and other potential releases.
