James Cameron’s much-anticipated science fiction epic Avatar: Fire & Ash has made a strong impact at the global Box office, reinforcing the franchise’s dominance worldwide. However, the story is noticeably different in India, where the film is encountering stiff resistance from the runaway success of Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar.
Despite the enormous hype surrounding the Avatar franchise, Fire & Ash has delivered only a moderate performance in the Indian market so far. According to early trade estimates, the film has collected approximately Rs 85.50 crore nett across all languages in its first five days of theatrical release.
Day 5 India Box Office Collection
On its fifth day (Tuesday), Avatar: Fire & Ash earned an estimated Rs 9.25 crore nett in India. While the collections remained steady, the growth has been slower than expected for a film of this scale, particularly given India’s status as one of the world’s largest cinema markets.
Trade analysts point out that the film’s performance indicates consistent footfalls but lacks the explosive momentum typically associated with the Avatar brand, largely due to strong competition and audience preference shifting towards domestic releases.
| Day | India Nett Collection (Rs crore) |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | 21.50 |
| Day 2 | 18.75 |
| Day 3 | 17.25 |
| Day 4 | 18.75 |
| Day 5 | 9.25 |
| Total (5 Days) | 85.50 |
Occupancy Trends Across Cities
On Tuesday, the English version of Avatar: Fire & Ash recorded an overall occupancy rate of 20.84%. Among major metropolitan centres, Chennai emerged as the strongest market, registering the highest occupancy at 30.75%.
The film’s occupancy pattern revealed a gradual rise over the course of the day. Morning shows opened at a modest 12.44%, while evening shows climbed to 27.09%, indicating better turnout during post-work and late-night slots.
Dhurandhar’s Dominance in Indian Theatres
A major factor affecting Avatar: Fire & Ash in India is the phenomenal performance of Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar. On the same Tuesday, Dhurandhar alone raked in Rs 17.25 crore nett, nearly double Avatar’s Day 5 earnings.
With this surge, Dhurandhar’s total Indian box office collection has reached an extraordinary Rs 589.50 crore nett, firmly establishing it as one of the biggest blockbusters of the year. The film’s sustained popularity has significantly limited screen availability and audience share for Avatar: Fire & Ash.
Challenging Release Window Ahead
The competition is expected to intensify further with the upcoming holiday releases. Films such as Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera (releasing on December 25) and Ikkis (set for January 1) are likely to fragment audiences even more during the crucial Christmas and New Year period.
While the holiday season typically boosts box office numbers, the crowded release calendar may prevent Avatar: Fire & Ash from achieving a major turnaround in India.
Global Performance Remains Strong
On the global front, Avatar: Fire & Ash continues to perform impressively. The film opened to a $347.30 million (approximately Rs 2,900 crore nett) worldwide, making it one of the biggest international openings of 2025.
However, it still trails behind the year’s top openers, including Zootopia 2 ($560.30 million / Rs 5,020 crore nett) and china’s animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 ($431.20 million / Rs 3,600 crore nett).
Notably, Fire & Ash has also fallen short of the opening figures achieved by its predecessor, Avatar: The Way of Water, which remains the strongest opening in the franchise’s history.
Star Cast, Budget, and the Future of Avatar
Made on a staggering budget of over $400 million (around Rs 3,590 crore), Avatar: Fire & Ash features an ensemble cast including Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, Sigourney Weaver, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Giovanni Ribisi, and Dileep Rao.
Despite the mixed response in India, the Avatar franchise remains a long-term global juggernaut. Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 are already in production and are slated for release in 2029 and 2031, respectively, ensuring that James Cameron’s cinematic universe continues to expand for years to come.
In summary, while Avatar: Fire & Ash is a global success story, its Indian box office journey is being overshadowed by the Dhurandhar wave, making the coming weeks crucial for determining its final domestic outcome.
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