Snowfalls did not prevent Avatar 3 from surpassing Avatar 2 in the US

The third installment of James Cameron's franchise shows more resilience in its second weekend than the previous film.

Despite unfavorable weather conditions in major U.S. cities, the American box office was surprisingly active during the last weekend of 2025. The leader remained unequivocally the blockbuster "Avatar 3: Fire and Ash" from 20th Century Studios, which confidently held the top spot in its second weekend after its premiere.

Weather factors—torrential rains in Los Angeles and snowfalls in New York—did not deter audiences or significantly impact cinema attendance.

Milder Decline in the Second Weekend

By the end of the second weekend, the box office earnings of "Avatar 3" dropped by only 33 percent compared to its opening weekend. This result is notably better than the performance of the franchise's second installment, "Avatar: The Way of Water," which in 2022 saw a 52 percent decline in its second week of release.

While the third installment did not match the absolute record of the original "Avatar" from 2009, which experienced a mere 1.8 percent drop in its second weekend, it demonstrated a resilience rare among modern blockbusters.

U.S. Earnings and Overall Performance

According to preliminary estimates, the four-day earnings of "Avatar 3: Fire and Ash" amounted to approximately $84 million. The film's total U.S. box office reached $213.7 million by Sunday, confirming strong audience interest and long-term potential for the film.

Audience Reception and the Family Factor

The demographic breakdown of the audience is noteworthy. Among parents who attended the cinema with their children during the second weekend, 52 percent were mothers. Overall, family audiences highly praised the 3-hour and 17-minute film: 90 percent of viewers stated they "definitely recommend" watching it.

The film received the highest ratings from women over 25, highlighting its broad appeal beyond the traditional teenage and male segments.

Competitors at the Box Office

The second spot at the American box office was claimed by another Disney project—the animated film "Zootopia 2." A month after its release, the film continues to demonstrate impressive staying power: in 3,370 cinemas, its earnings are estimated at $19–20 million, potentially representing a 35 percent increase compared to the previous weekend.

Context of Disney's Success

The success of "Avatar 3" and "Zootopia 2" aligns with the broader picture of Disney's dominance in 2025. Earlier, the company became the first and only major studio to surpass six billion dollars in global box office revenue this year, reaffirming its leading position in the global film industry.