James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash has claimed the top spot at the North American box office in its opening weekend, though its debut figures landed at the lower end of industry expectations.

According to Walt Disney Co., the third instalment in the blockbuster Avatar franchise earned $88 million from ticket sales across the United States and Canada. While the numbers were sufficient to secure the No. 1 position, they fell short of the $100–$120 million range projected by Boxoffice Pro. Disney had earlier pegged the film’s domestic opening at up to $90 million.

The film fared significantly better overseas, raking in an impressive $257 million from international markets, as per Disney’s statement released on Sunday. Globally, Fire and Ash enjoyed a robust start, reinforcing the franchise’s strong appeal beyond North America.

Domestically, the opening weekend surpassed the original Avatar, which debuted with $77 million in 2009, but remained well below Avatar: The Way of Water, which opened to a massive $134.1 million in 2022.

Historically, the Avatar films have demonstrated remarkable staying power at the box office, benefiting from December releases, immersive 3D visuals, and strong holiday-season footfalls. Both previous films went on to cross the $2 billion mark worldwide and remain among the highest-grossing movies of all time.

Despite the softer-than-expected opening, industry analysts note that Fire and Ash carries significant production and marketing costs, with profits likely to materialize over a longer theatrical run and into the next year.

Directed by James Cameron, the film sees Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana reprise their roles as Jake Sully and Neytiri. The story introduces a new antagonist—the Ash People, a violent Na’vi tribe inhabiting the mineral-rich regions of Pandora—once again placing humans and natives on a collision course.

Disney acquired the Avatar franchise as part of its $71.3 billion acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019. The company already operates an Avatar-themed land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida and is planning a similar attraction in California.

Despite Fire and Ash opening below projections, Disney’s film division has enjoyed a strong year overall. Lilo & Stitch and Zootopia 2 have both crossed the $1 billion mark globally, with Zootopia 2 achieving the milestone faster than any animated film in Hollywood history.