Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, “Avatar: The Way of Water” tells the story of the Sully family
Disney
by Disney “Avatar: The Way of Water” has enjoyed a coveted release in China, a promising sign for a film that needs big box office sales to offset its massive budget.
The long-awaited sequel to 2009’s Avatar was one of the few Hollywood films allowed to enter the Chinese market in recent months. Government officials in the region, which had already begun tightening restrictions on Western films even before the pandemic hit, have been strict about which films can be shown to audiences who are watching. longing for entertainment.
The news was first reported by The Wall Street Journal and posted on the official Weibo account of 20th Century Studios.
Director James Cameron has yet to set a price for The Way of Water, but estimates put it in excess of $250 million. The writer-director told GQ magazine that the budget for the sequel was too high, so the movie will needs to become the third or fourth highest grossing film in history to break even. That means the film will need to break the $2 billion mark globally.
Overall, international ticket sales were a major factor in the box office success of “Avatar” in 2009, as $2.13 billion of the film’s $2.91 billion in ticket sales came from outside the domestic market. China contributed about 265 million USD.
Before the pandemic, China was the world’s second-highest grossing theater market. Since cinemas reopened in the country, it has been one of the fastest-growing markets and generating box office success.
In 2009, China’s total box office receipts reached $910 million. A decade later, its box office receipts amounted to $8 billion.
Perhaps the most important thing about this release is that it will happen on December 16th, the same day as the domestic launch. Disney succeeded with this strategy, releasing “Avengers: Endgame” on the same day in the US and China, resulting in the highest global opening weekend in cinematic history.
“Avatar” was a huge hit in China in its initial release, and next re-release in early 2021, as audiences flock to theaters to watch movies in premium format. These shows are more expensive than traditional digital or laser projections and can boost overall ticket sales.
