Avatar: The Way of Water is on track to pass Top Gun: Maverick as the highest-grossing film released in 2022. Top Gun: Maverick soared to $1.488 billion worldwide since its release in May 2022. Remaining in the top 15 of weekly box office revenue reports for months, the movie's only major competition for the title of the highest-grossing film of 2022 has been Avatar: The Way of Water. After almost 3 weeks in theaters, the film has garnered $1.482 billion, just $6 million shy of Top Gun: Maverick's massive success.

According to a report from Deadline, Avatar: The Way of Water's earnings will inevitably pass Top Gun: Maverick's record, cementing the latest Avatar film as the highest-grossing film released in 2022. The new record set by Avatar: The Way of Water is one of many the film has achieved recently. This includes being the fastest film to reach $1 billion in 2022, as well as crossing $1 billion at the international box office.

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Why Avatar: The Way Of Water Keeps Dominating The Box Office

Jake and Neytiri in Avatar: Way Of Water.

Given how fast the film has been earning money, Avatar: The Way of Water beating out Top Gun: Maverick as the highest-grossing film released in 2022 was an inevitability. The long-awaited sequel to 2009's Avatar has continued to reign at the box office worldwide, in no small part due to its revolutionary computer-generated effects. Avatar: The Way of Water is the first film in history to utilize underwater motion capture, a technology that helps make the world of Pandora feel alive. Due to James Cameron's dedication to making Avatar: The Way of Water feel as real as possible, many may be going to see the film to escape into Pandora for its three-hour runtime.

The story of Avatar: The Way of Water is another draw for audiences, as the film centers around Jake Sully's family, his role as a father, and his children going through independent coming-of-age arcs. Cameron's decision to focus on the Sully family as a lens to explore the wider world of Pandora helps to draw in families that want to watch the movie for its relatable themes. It also assists the film in humanizing the Na'vi, making viewers root for them because of their familiarity. The heart of Avatar: The Way of Water adds to the movie's appeal, underscoring why it's been able to resonate with enough people to become the top film released in 2022.

How Long Can Avatar 2 Keep Its Box Office Momentum?

Avatar The Way Of Water Swimming With Whale

Avatar: The Way of Water is only 3 weeks into its theatrical run, meaning the film has plenty of time to continue impressing with its box office performance. The film has held a steady performance at the domestic box office for the last week, underscoring how its box office earnings aren't going to be dipping any time soon. If Avatar: The Way of Water continues to perform the way it has been for its first 3 weeks in theaters, it has a chance of overtaking the first Avatar as the highest-grossing film of all time. While it's too early to say just how well Avatar: The Way of Water will do, its swift overtaking of Top Gun: Maverick's record box office earnings point to high earnings for the foreseeable future.

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Source: Deadline