The latest cinematic voyage to Pandora has opened to a somewhat muted reception, as Avatar: Fire and Ash fell short of its anticipated $100 million domestic debut. The third instalment in James Cameron's sci-fi epic series launched with $88 million in the United States over the weekend of Monday 22 December 2025, a figure that disappointed industry watchers despite topping the box office charts.
A Slower Start for the Pandoran Epic
While Avatar: Fire and Ash soared above its direct competitors, its opening was notably lower than the $134 million achieved by its predecessor, Avatar: The Way of Water, in 2022. The film's performance has sparked discussion, yet analysts point to the franchise's established pattern of remarkable staying power rather than explosive openings.
The original 2009 Avatar film debuted with just $77 million domestically but held the number one spot for seven consecutive weekends, ultimately grossing $2.92 billion globally to become the highest-grossing film of all time. The sequel followed a similar trajectory, also leading for seven weekends and earning $2.3 billion worldwide.
Globally, Fire and Ash has already amassed a substantial $345 million in its first three days, suggesting it may well follow the franchise's signature 'slow burn' path to financial success.
David Topples Goliath-Sized Records
The weekend's surprise story emerged from Angel Studios, whose animated musical David secured a stunning second place. The family-friendly adaptation of the Biblical David and Goliath story earned $22 million from 3,119 theatres over its first three days.
This achievement marks a new record opening for the faith-based studio, surpassing its previous high of $19.7 million set by Sound of Freedom in 2023. Furthermore, David now holds the title for the biggest opening weekend in history for a faith-based animated movie.
The film toppled the 27-year record held by DreamWorks' The Prince of Egypt and beat Angel Studios' own earlier 2025 release, The King of Kings, which opened at $19.4 million.
The Rest of the Box Office Battlefield
The weekend's other new releases filled the subsequent ranks. The thriller The Housemaid, an adaptation starring Sydney Sweeney, landed in third place with a $19 million domestic opening.
Paramount's The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants rounded out the top tier, kicking off its run with $16 million.
While Avatar: Fire and Ash dominates in sheer scale, the exceptional performance of David highlights a growing and potent market for faith-oriented and family content, proving that the holiday box office battle offers room for more than one victor.
