James Cameron’s much-anticipated action fantasy Avatar: Fire and Ash has opened advance bookings in India on a solid note. On its first day of pre-sales, the film sold approximately 55,000 tickets, collecting over Rs 4 crore, indicating strong initial interest among moviegoers. Trade estimates suggest that the film’s advance booking collections could touch Rs 10 crore by the end of the opening weekend.
Day 1 Pre-Sales Performance
Advance bookings for Avatar: Fire and Ash went live across major cinema chains, with the film registering a healthy start despite being in the early phase of its booking window. The Rs 4 crore-plus collection on Day 1 reflects steady momentum, particularly for premium formats, which continue to be a major draw for the Avatar franchise.
Comparison With Avatar: The Way of Water
While the opening numbers are encouraging, they currently trail behind Avatar: The Way of Water. At a similar point in time, Fire and Ash’s advance sales stand at around 40 per cent of what Avatar 2 had achieved. Trade analysts, however, remain optimistic, noting that the gap is expected to narrow as the release date approaches.
Current projections suggest that Avatar: Fire and Ash could close its advance booking phase with around 2 lakh tickets sold, compared to The Way of Water’s 3.3 lakh tickets during the same period.
South India Leads the Charge
Mirroring trends seen with the previous film, Avatar: Fire and Ash is witnessing its strongest advance booking response from South India, particularly Tamil Nadu and the Telugu-speaking states. These regions have traditionally shown higher enthusiasm for Hollywood spectacle-driven releases, especially in large-format and IMAX screenings.
Outlook Ahead of Release
The relatively softer start in North India is not unexpected, as ticket sales in these markets often surge closer to release, driven by walk-ins and last-minute bookings. With positive anticipation and James Cameron’s brand power behind it, Avatar: Fire and Ash is expected to build momentum steadily in the days leading up to its theatrical debut.
As advance bookings continue to unfold, all eyes will be on whether the film can bridge the gap with its predecessor and translate early interest into a massive opening weekend at the Indian box office.
