The release of *Avatar: Fire And Ash*, the third installment in James Cameron's *Avatar* saga, is slated for tomorrow,
December 19th. Given Cameron's reputation and the financial success of the previous two films, expectations are running
high. However, initial projections for the opening day box office in India suggest it will fall short of the precedent
set by *Avatar: The Way of Water*.
Over time, the *Avatar* series has cultivated a dedicated following in India. The original film, released in 2009,
captivated audiences with its groundbreaking technology. It went on to become a major hit, earning over 100 crore in
### Factors Affecting Opening Day Projections
*Avatar: Fire And Ash* hasn't generated the same level of pre-release excitement as *The Way Of Water*. Twelve years
separated the first *Avatar* film from *Avatar: The Way Of Water* in 2022, which contributed to significant
anticipation. The second film ultimately grossed a substantial 390.6 crore net at the Indian box office, achieving
blockbuster status. Strong reviews and positive word-of-mouth certainly played a role, but the extended gap between
films was a key driver of audience enthusiasm.
With only two years separating *Avatar: Fire And Ash* from its predecessor, the level of anticipation has naturally
decreased. In addition to reduced buzz, the film may also be suffering from franchise fatigue. While *Avatar: The Way of
Water* performed exceptionally well, it received some criticism regarding its pacing and plot. This criticism has
carried over to the third film even before its release. The element of novelty that boosted the second installment is
also absent this time around. This is reflected in the pre-sale numbers, with just over 100,000 tickets sold at national
cinema chains (PVR Inox and Cinepolis), compared to the 330,000 tickets *The Way Of Water* sold before its release.
Adding to these challenges, the success of *Dhurandhar* is also impacting *Avatar: Fire And Ash*. While *Avatar* appeals
to a different audience and genre, *Dhurandhar*'s strong performance will likely limit the number of screens available
to the new *Avatar* film nationwide. The exact number of showings will become clearer later tonight. The buzz
surrounding *Avatar* has also been somewhat overshadowed by the popularity of *Dhurandhar*.
### Revised Box Office Prediction
Despite these factors, *Avatar* still has a loyal fan base eager to see the film on the big screen. Taking everything
into consideration, *Avatar: Fire And Ash* is now projected to earn between 18 and 22 crore net on its opening day in
India. This is a significant drop from earlier expectations of a 30 crore+ opening and considerably less than the 41
crores earned by *Avatar: The Way Of Water* on its first day.
Check back with Scoopliner.com for further box office updates!