"Avatar: The Way of Water" clocking in below earnings expectations - Axios

“Avatar: The Way of Water” earned $53 cardinal connected its opening time Friday and is present projected to marque betwixt $130-$150 cardinal done its opening weekend, Deadline reports.

Why it matters: This is somewhat beneath expectations for the long-awaited sequel from manager James Cameron, who antecedently suggested the movie needs to marque billions successful bid to interruption even.

Details: “Avatar: The Way of Water” opened crossed 4,202 theaters this weekend, including previews connected Thursday night.

• In summation to $53 cardinal domestically, the movie earned $15.8 cardinal for its first-day income crossed 15 antithetic markets, per Deadline.
• The opening nighttime home returns fertile sixth highest for first-day home grossing 2022, Variety reports.

Context: The archetypal "Avatar" — released successful 2009 — earned $26.7 million connected its opening nighttime earlier earning $77 cardinal done its opening weekend.

The large picture: All signs constituent toward "The Way of Water" clocking successful somewhat beneath estimates, which said the movie would gain betwixt $150-$170 million implicit its opening weekend.

• Several Marvel and Hollywood blockbusters successful 2022 earned much connected their opening nighttime compared to "The Way of Water," including “Doctor Strange successful the Multiverse of Madness” ($90.7 million) “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” ($84.2 million) and “The Batman” ($56.6 million).
• Last year, "Spider-Man: No Way Home" earned $121.5 million connected its opening nighttime successful December 2021, which was the second-highest-grossing opening day ever. The movie ended up earning $260.1 million from its full opening weekend.

What we're watching: Cameron told GQ that the "Avatar" sequel was truthful costly that the movie would request "to beryllium the 3rd oregon 4th highest-grossing movie successful history" to interruption even.

• The 4th highest-grossing movie successful past is "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," which earned $2.1 cardinal astatine the container office, Axios' Troy Smith reports.
• Cameron said that the aboriginal of his franchise volition beryllium connected however "The Way of Water" performs.

Yes, but: People are astatine slightest enjoying the film. "The Way of Water" presently has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 78% from critics and a 94% from audiences.

More from Axios:

• All eyes connected Avatar to prevention struggling container office
• "Avatar: The Way of Water" reviews could propulsion it to container bureau gold