James Cameron's cinematic juggernaut, 'Avatar: Fire and Ash', has once again proven its dominance, securing the top spot at the North American box office for an impressive fifth consecutive weekend. The film added $13.3 million to its colossal haul over the weekend of Sunday 18 January 2026, fending off a strong challenge from a major new horror sequel.
New Challenger Falls Just Short
The much-anticipated sequel '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple', directed by Nia DaCosta and starring Ralph Fiennes and Jack O'Connell, launched in a close second place. The Sony Pictures release, which opened in 3,506 theatres, earned an estimated $13 million from Friday to Sunday. By the end of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday on Monday, projections suggest it will reach $15 million, still trailing behind 'Avatar's' expected $17.2 million.
This opening has been labelled a 'head-scratcher' by industry analysts, given the film's critical acclaim—it holds a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes—and strong audience scores. In a PostTrak poll, 72% of viewers said they would 'definitely recommend' the film. Its performance is particularly notable as it defies the typical January trend of being a dumping ground for weaker releases.
However, the sequel's arrival less than a year after its predecessor, '28 Years Later', which opened to $30 million in June 2025, may have led to audience fatigue or confusion. With a reported production budget of $63 million, not including marketing, the film has a significant journey to reach profitability. Internationally, it has taken $16.2 million from 61 markets.
Disney's Dual Celebrations
The Walt Disney Co. enjoyed a double victory this weekend. Not only did its 'Avatar' franchise maintain its reign, but its Thanksgiving release 'Zootopia 2' also hit a historic milestone. In its eighth weekend, the animated hit earned $8.8 million, landing in third place. More significantly, its global grosses have now reached $1.7 billion, making it the highest-grossing animated Motion Picture Association release of all time, surpassing 'Inside Out 2'. This achievement positions it as the ninth biggest global release in history.
It is important to note that the MPA distinction excludes Chinese blockbusters like 'Ne Zha 2', which has earned over $2.2 billion.
Rounding Out the Top Performers
The rest of the chart showcased a mix of enduring hits and surprise successes. The low-budget thriller 'The Housemaid' from Lionsgate continued its remarkable run, landing in fourth with $8.5 million. Made for just $35 million, its worldwide total is nearing $250 million.
In fifth place, 'Marty Supreme' made history for indie studio A24, becoming its highest-grossing North American release ever with a total of $79.7 million, dethroning 'Everything Everywhere All at Once'. The film is expected to receive a further boost when Oscar nominations are announced.
In a nostalgic turn, the re-releases of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring' and 'The Two Towers' both cracked the top ten, earning $3.6 million and $2.4 million respectively.
Outside the top ten, the Golden Globe-winning drama 'Hamnet', a major Oscar contender, expanded to 718 locations and earned $1.3 million through Sunday.
The full estimated top 10 for the weekend is as follows:
- 'Avatar: Fire and Ash', $13.3 million.
- '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple', $13 million.
- 'Zootopia 2', $8.8 million.
- 'The Housemaid', $8.5 million.
- 'Marty Supreme', $5.5 million.
- 'Primate', $5 million.
- 'Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring', $3.6 million.
- 'Greenland 2: Migration', $3.4 million.
- 'Anaconda', $3.2 million.
- 'Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers', $2.4 million.
