$900 million. That’s how much money Avatar: The Way Of Water needs to make to overtake 2009’s Avatar, which earned a record $2.9 billion worldwide. The first Avatar crossed the $2 billion mark 45 days after it was released.
It’s estimated The Way Of Water cost over $350 million to make, plus tens of millions of dollars which were spent on marketing and promotion, making it one of the most expensive movies ever produced, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Cameron said that The Way of Water needed to be “the third or fourth highest-grossing film in history” for it to break even. The movie had a lackluster domestic opening of $134 million, but it grossed $1 billion just two weeks after being released, and is just the sixth film ever to do so in that time frame. Avatar: The Way Of Water has been the No. 1 film at the box office for six weeks in a row. Last week, Cameron said he expected The Way Of Water to cross $2 billion “in the next few days, just with the momentum it has now.”
Cameron is one of the highest-grossing directors. In addition to the commercial success of Avatar and Avatar: The Way Of Water, he also directed 1997’s Titanic, the third highest-grossing film. To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Titanic is returning to theaters for a limited release on February 10, further boosting its grosses. Before The Way Of Water was released, Avatar also returned to theaters for a limited run.