Today, Avatar: The Way of Water has officially become Australia’s second highest-grossing movie of all time, surpassing A$94 million at the local box office.
The film also became the first in history to pass NZ$20 million at the New Zealand box office.
Originally released in December 2022, the James Cameron-directed sequel has earned more than US$2 billion globally, cementing its place as the third highest-grossing film in history. The film also took home the Academy Award for Best Achievement in Visual Effects, a testament to its groundbreaking production design and state-of-the-art technology.
Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, Avatar: The Way of Water is based in the fictional world of Pandora, launching the story of the Sully family, their adventures, unmistakeable loyalty, and tragedy, the tragedies they endure. Audiences are introduced to new Na’vi cultures and a range of exotic sea creatures.
This puts The Way of Water directly behind the original Avatar (2009) on Australia’s all-time box office chart. Produced by Cameron and his longtime collaborator Jon Landau, the sequel pushed the boundaries of underwater motion capture and visual storytelling, setting new benchmarks for the industry worldwide.
Boosting its already record-breaking numbers, The Way of Water has returned to Australian cinemas for an exclusive 3D re-release, running until October 8. The re-release comes as anticipation builds for the franchise’s next instalment, Avatar: Fire and Ash, is set to open in Australian cinemas from December 18th.
With Avatar: Fire and Ash, Cameron takes audiences back to Pandora in what promises to be an immersive adventure with the Sully family.
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Cameron famously said back in 2010 that he would consider making sequels only if the original Avatar was successful. Fifteen years later, the franchise’s universe continues to dominate both culturally and commercially, proving the enduring power of Cameron’s vision.
As The Way of Water rises to second place on the all-time Australian box office list, just shy of its own predecessor, it reinforces Avatar as one of cinema’s most successful and ambitious franchises, showing that audiences are still eager to return to Pandora’s world of breathtaking visuals and deeply human storytelling.
