Avatar: The Way of Water has already smashed through the box office with exceedingly high numbers, meaning it could be one of the biggest movies of both 2022 and 2023. In December 2009, James Cameron entranced audiences with the world of Pandora with Avatar, and after eventually grossing $2.9 billion worldwide, many were begging for a sequel. Over 10 years later, wishes were granted as Cameron brought Pandora back to the big screen, and promised three additional sequels to be released over the next decade. Avatar 2 hit theaters on December 16th, 2022 to much hype, facing an enormous opening weekend.
Considering that there was over a decade-long delay between Avatar and Avatar 2, anticipation had been building for quite some time. However, many wondered if it was simply too late for Avatar 2, but those fears were immediately squashed upon its release. Director James Cameron took his time perfecting the art of underwater CGI, and the results are nothing short of astounding. Avatar 2 made $53.2 million on its first day alone in theaters, quickly jumping to the top of the charts to make the sequel one of the highest-grossing movies of 2022 — but it could also break records in 2023.
Avatar: The Way Of Water Is One Of 2022's Biggest Movies
Within less than a month of its opening, Avatar: The Way of Water became the second-highest-grossing film of 2022, and the numbers aren't slowing down. As of now, Avatar 2 has grossed $1.1 billion so far, showing that the second installment was well worth the wait. The film started off incredibly strong in its opening weekend, netting $301 million worldwide. Part of the reason these numbers are so high has to do with the release schedule itself. Avatar 2 faced little competition at the box office upon its release. Putting out the movie so close to the holidays only boosted its returns. Couple that with the fact that it's a technological and special effects masterpiece, and it's a recipe for success.
The only movie that beat out Avatar: The Way of Water as the biggest movie of 2022 was Top Gun: Maverick. The Top Gun sequel has just barely made more money than Avatar 2, currently sitting at $1.4 billion worldwide. That being said, Avatar 2 is still in theaters, whereas Top Gun 2 is not, giving Avatar 2 plenty of time to catch up to its biggest contender. Despite Avatar 2 not catching up to Top Gun 2 yet, the former film still made more on its opening weekend than the latter did, as Top Gun 2's opening weekend saw $126 million domestically.
How Avatar: The Way Of Water Could Be Among 2023's Biggest Movies Too
As previously mentioned, Avatar: The Way of Water is still in theaters, and its numbers aren't slowing down. The James Cameron film could easily double its money during its theatrical run, pushing the film forward to be one of the biggest movies of 2023. Based on box office trends, that amount of cash would be difficult to match. Avatar 2 doesn't have a ton of competition to go up against in terms of movies in early 2023. Reportedly, the film will stay in theaters until at least February, and it's possible there will still be limited releases after that. This gives Avatar 2 plenty of time to rake in the proceeds, possibly dethroning any other 2023 film that wants to go up against it.
Avatar: The Way of Water is a technical feat, and arguably James Cameron's most aesthetically beautiful film. Thanks to its intriguing storyline and mesmerizing special effects, it's no wonder that it became one of the biggest movies of 2022, and probably 2023 as well. While the title of the highest-grossing film of 2022 goes to Top Gun: Maverick, Avatar 2 is hot on its heels, and it will likely beat its biggest contender going into the new year. Due to its lengthy theatrical run, people have plenty of time to catch Avatar: The Way of Water in theaters before it releases on Disney+, which will only see even more incredible returns.