LOS ANGELES, Dec 18 (Reuters) – James Cameron’s long-awaited “Avatar” sequel fell wanting ticket gross sales forecasts because it swept into theaters over the weekend, although field workplace consultants mentioned it was too quickly to guage whether or not the film would recoup its large prices.
“Avatar: The Method of Water” racked up roughly $435 million across the globe, distributor Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) mentioned, together with $134 million in america and Canada.
Pre-weekend predictions known as for a minimum of a $140 million home tally for Cameron’s decade-in-the-making return to the story of the blue, Na’vi folks on a moon known as Pandora, and as a lot as $500 million worldwide.
Whereas the numbers got here in decrease than projections, the worldwide whole ranked because the third-highest Hollywood opening of the COVID-19 pandemic, in response to Comscore.
Field workplace analysts mentioned “The Method of Water” had the possibility to attract massive household audiences over the Christmas and New Yr’s holidays. The movie has little main competitors till February.
“The Method of Water” is “constructed for the lengthy haul, as are nearly all James Cameron movies,” mentioned Jeff Bock, senior media analyst at Exhibitor Relations Co. Audiences “could not present up the opening weekend, however they’ll present up ultimately.”
Studios cut up ticket gross sales with theaters, and Cameron has mentioned “The Method of Water” might want to make $2 billion simply to interrupt even. Disney has not disclosed the price range and advertising and marketing prices.
The film was launched 13 years after the primary installment wowed audiences with pioneering 3D know-how. The unique “Avatar” stays the all-time field workplace champion with $2.9 billion in international ticket gross sales.
The primary “Avatar” and Cameron’s “Titanic”, which additionally dominated on the field workplace the yr it was launched, performed in theaters for weeks longer than most motion pictures.
Tony Chambers, head of theatrical distribution at Disney, mentioned he anticipated “The Method of Water” to herald robust gross sales over the vacation interval and mentioned its efficiency must be judged after the New Yr.
“We all know it is resonating,” he mentioned, noting optimistic reactions from ticket patrons and movie critics. “We’re in superb form.”
The sequel was delayed a number of occasions as Cameron and co-writers crafted a narrative to be instructed over 4 extra motion pictures. A 3rd “Avatar” installment and a part of a fourth have already got been filmed.
In “The Method of Water,” actors Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana return as Jake Sully and Neytiri 10 years later, now dad and mom of 5 kids. Their peaceable life is interrupted when the Sky Folks, the Na’vi title for people, return to go after Jake.
Movie critics praised the visible spectacle of “The Method of Water,” and 94% of ticket patrons offered a optimistic score on the Rotten Tomatoes web site.
Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Enhancing by Lisa Shumaker and Invoice Berkrot
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