NEW YORK (AP) — Hollywood kicked off 2026 with 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' atop the box office for the third straight week and with hopes for a blockbuster-filled year after a disappointing 2025.
In three weeks of release, 'Fire and Ash' has cleared $1 billion worldwide. The third chapter in James Cameron’s Pandora epic collected $40 million over its third weekend in North American theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday.
'Fire and Ash' is performing best overseas, grossing $777.1 million internationally thus far, marking another monumental achievement for Cameron’s groundbreaking franchise. Meanwhile, Disney celebrated the success over the holiday week, attributing strong ticket sales to other hits like 'Zootopia 2,' which landed in second place with $19 million.
The animated sequel has amassed $1.59 billion in six weeks, becoming Disney’s second highest grossing animated movie, just behind 'The Lion King' (2019).
Both 'The Housemaid' and 'Marty Supreme' also performed well over the holiday season, with Sweeney and Chalamet drawing audiences to theaters. Total ticket sales in the U.S. and Canada showed a remarkable increase of 26.5% compared to the same weekend last year, reflecting a realistic bounce back from the tough conditions of 2025.
The entertainment industry looks forward to a potentially seismic shift with significant franchise films lined up, including new installments for 'Toy Story,' 'Avengers,' and 'Spider-Man.' Already, caution has turned optimistic as the market shows signs of a strong recovery.
In three weeks of release, 'Fire and Ash' has cleared $1 billion worldwide. The third chapter in James Cameron’s Pandora epic collected $40 million over its third weekend in North American theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday.
'Fire and Ash' is performing best overseas, grossing $777.1 million internationally thus far, marking another monumental achievement for Cameron’s groundbreaking franchise. Meanwhile, Disney celebrated the success over the holiday week, attributing strong ticket sales to other hits like 'Zootopia 2,' which landed in second place with $19 million.
The animated sequel has amassed $1.59 billion in six weeks, becoming Disney’s second highest grossing animated movie, just behind 'The Lion King' (2019).
Both 'The Housemaid' and 'Marty Supreme' also performed well over the holiday season, with Sweeney and Chalamet drawing audiences to theaters. Total ticket sales in the U.S. and Canada showed a remarkable increase of 26.5% compared to the same weekend last year, reflecting a realistic bounce back from the tough conditions of 2025.
The entertainment industry looks forward to a potentially seismic shift with significant franchise films lined up, including new installments for 'Toy Story,' 'Avengers,' and 'Spider-Man.' Already, caution has turned optimistic as the market shows signs of a strong recovery.
