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James Cameron’s long-awaited “Avatar” sequel fell short of ticket sales forecasts as it swept into theaters over the weekend, though box office experts said it was too soon to judge whether the movie would recoup its massive costs.
“Avatar: The Way of Water” racked up roughly $435 million around the globe, distributor Walt Disney Co said, including $134 million in the United States and Canada.
Pre-weekend predictions called for at least a $140 million domestic tally for Cameron’s decade-in-the-making return to the story of the blue, Na’vi people on a moon called Pandora, and as much as $500 million worldwide.
While the numbers came in lower than projections, the global total ranked as the third-highest Hollywood opening of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Comscore.
Box office analysts said “The Way of Water” had the chance to draw large family audiences over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
