'Avatar: Fire and Ash' crosses $1bn worldwide as Disney dominates global box office in 2025

Highlights

• James Cameron scores his fourth $1bn global hit with Avatar: Fire and Ash
  
  
• Film stands as the second-highest MPA release of 2025 worldwide
  
• Disney controls the top three global MPA titles of the year
  
• Zootopia 2 continues record-setting run internationally
  

Avatar: Fire and Ash joins the $1bn club

20th Century Studios’ Avatar: Fire and Ash has crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box office, becoming the fourth James Cameron-directed film to reach that milestone after Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water and Titanic.

The third film in the franchise has earned $1.08 billion worldwide, including $306 million in the US and $777.1 million from international markets. Cameron remains the only director to have three films gross more than $2 billion globally.

The film posted a strong third weekend domestically with around $40 million, dropping 37 per cent, taking its North American total close to $306 million.

Franchise milestones and international performance

Fire and Ash is now the second-highest-grossing MPA title of 2025 worldwide, overtaking releases including Jurassic World: Rebirth and The Minecraft Movie. Internationally, it ranks second for the year, ahead of Lilo & Stitch.

The franchise’s three films have now generated a combined $6.35 billion globally. Over the latest weekend, the film collected $129.6 million from 51 major overseas markets, with Japan rising 26 per cent week-on-week. Holds were steady across key territories including the UK, France, Australia, Brazil and Germany.

In China, the film has grossed $138 million, making it the second-biggest MPA release of the year in the market. Imax screenings delivered $22.5 million globally over the weekend, lifting the large-format total to $140 million.

Disney locks top global rankings

Disney claimed the top three global MPA titles of 2025 with Zootopia 2, Avatar: Fire and Ash, and Lilo & Stitch.

Zootopia 2 led the global weekend with $169.6 million and has now reached $1.588 billion worldwide, including $1.22 billion from international markets. The sequel has overtaken Frozen II to become the second-highest-grossing animated film globally and the highest-grossing animated MPA title overseas.

In China, Zootopia 2 has crossed $604 million, placing it just behind Avengers: Endgame on the all-time MPA chart in local currency.

Other international box office movers

Sony’s Anaconda added $13.4 million overseas from 61 markets, lifting its global total to $88.4 million. France led new openings, while Australia and the UK continued solid holds.

Lionsgate’s The Housemaid maintained momentum internationally and domestically, reaching $133 million worldwide, outperforming the lifetime total of director Paul Feig’s A Simple Favor.

Universal and Focus Features’ Song Sung Blue expanded across multiple territories, taking $10.3 million globally over the weekend and reaching $30.1 million worldwide to date.

Among holdovers, Wicked: For Good and Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 continued to add incremental gains overseas, while Italy’s local hit Buen Camino remained one of the strongest performers in its home market.

Together, the results underline Disney’s dominance of the global box office in 2025, with Avatar: Fire and Ash anchoring another landmark year for James Cameron on the international stage.