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James Cameron’s high-stakes sequel, Avatar: Fire and Ash (Avatar 3), arrived in Indian theaters this Friday, December 19, but the initial results have fallen short of its predecessor’s massive legacy. Despite the immense hype surrounding the “Ash People” and the expansion of Pandora, the film is witnessing a “muted” start compared to the record-breaking benchmarks set in 2022.
Early Sunday estimates suggest a first weekend collection in the range of ₹75–80 Crore Gross (approximately ₹60 Crore Net India). While these figures would be considered successful for most Hollywood releases, they represent a significant 50% decline compared to Avatar: The Way of Water, which grossed nearly ₹150 Crore in its opening weekend.
Visuals vs. Narrative: A Divided Audience Reaction
While James Cameron’s technical mastery remains undisputed, the audience response has been notably mixed. The visual effects of the volcanic regions and the introduction of the aggressive Ash People (Varang’s clan) are being hailed as a “technical masterpiece.” However, a significant portion of critics and social media users have labeled the plot as “repetitive” and “predictable.”
“Visually stunning but narratively thin. It feels like a repeat of the ‘family under threat’ trope from the second film, just with fire instead of water,” reads one trending review on X (formerly Twitter).
Language-Wise Breakdown: Regional Decline
The film’s performance varies significantly across different languages, highlighting a shift in audience interest:
- English: Remains the strongest contributor, accounting for nearly 48% of the total collection, particularly in premium IMAX and 4D formats.
- Hindi: Performing steadily but facing a direct clash with local blockbusters.
- Regional (Tamil/Telugu/Malayalam): These markets have seen a sharp decline. Unlike the previous film, which saw an explosion in the South, Fire and Ash is struggling to maintain high occupancy in regional dubbed versions.
The ‘Dhurandhar’ Juggernaut: A Blockade for Pandora
The biggest hurdle for Fire and Ash has been the unexpected resilience of the Ranveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar. Now in its third week, the “Dhurandhar Juggernaut” continues to dominate screens across the Hindi belt.
Instead of Avatar 3 taking over the market, it is Dhurandhar that is preventing James Cameron’s epic from achieving a decisive jump. With Dhurandhar maintaining nearly ₹20 Crore+ daily collections even in week three, Avatar is finding it difficult to secure the “housefull” status required for a record-breaking weekend.
Conclusion: All Eyes on the Weekday Hold
Avatar: Fire and Ash is currently trailing behind its predecessor, but the upcoming Christmas and New Year holiday period offers a window for recovery. For the film to achieve a “hit” verdict in India, it must show an exceptional hold on Monday and tap into the family audience that is currently split between the volcanic realms of Pandora and the grounded espionage of Dhurandhar.
