Christmas Box Office: 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' Dominates Amidst Diverse Offerings

The Christmas box office season is in full swing, with 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' leading the pack despite new releases vying for audience attention. Christmas Eve brought in an estimated $27.6 million across all films, a figure typically lower than other days due to holiday traditions. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. the subsequent days, starting with Christmas Day, are crucial for determining the success of films released during this period.

'Avatar: Fire and Ash' secured the top spot on Christmas Eve with $10.7 million from 3,800 theaters, bringing its cumulative total to $129.7 million. While this represents a strong performance, it's worth noting that Christmas Eve 2021 saw a higher total gross of $31.1 million, driven by the massive appeal of 'Spider-Man: No Way Home,' a film that generated significant FOMO (fear of missing out). 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' did outperform Christmas Eve 2022, which featured 'Avatar: Way of Water,' by +24%.

Among the new releases, A24's 'Marty Supreme,' starring Timothée Chalamet, and Sony's comedy 'Anaconda,' featuring Jack Black and Paul Rudd, both held preview screenings. 'Marty Supreme' earned $2 million in previews, exceeding Chalamet's previous Christmas Eve preview performance for 'A Complete Unknown'. 'Anaconda' took in $2.1 million from its previews. The performance of 'Marty Supreme' is particularly noteworthy given Chalamet's rising star power and A24's track record with independent films. The positive critical reception ('Marty Supreme' boasts a 95% certified fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes) could further boost its appeal.

'Anaconda' faces a tougher road, with critics giving it a 49% rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Comedies often rely heavily on word-of-mouth, so positive audience reactions will be essential for its success. Jack Black and Paul Rudd are established comedic actors, and their pairing could draw audiences despite the negative reviews.

Disney's 'Zootopia 2' continues its strong run, grossing $3.2 million on its fourth Wednesday, bringing its total to $296.1 million. The film is expected to cross the $300 million mark soon, solidifying its position as a major box office success. Animated films often exhibit strong staying power during the holiday season, appealing to families and younger audiences.

Looking ahead, industry projections estimate 'Avatar 3' will generate around $75 million over the four-day Christmas weekend. 'Anaconda' is hoping to exceed $20 million, while 'Song Sung Blue' is forecast to make $10 million to $14 million. The performance of these films, along with other releases like 'Housemaid,' 'David,' 'Marty Supreme,' and 'SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants,' will provide a clearer picture of the overall health of the Christmas box office season.

Editor’s note: This article was independently written by the Scoopliner Editorial Team using publicly available information.