Analyst forecasts ahead of the weekend pointed to at least a $140 million opening for director James Cameron’s return to the story of the blue Na’vi on the moon called Pandora.
In foreign markets, “Avatar 2” grossed $301 million for a worldwide total of about $435 million as of Sunday, according to distributor Walt Disney Co DIS.N.
Studios split ticket sales with theaters, and Cameron has said the film will need to make $2 billion during its run just to break even.
Avatar: The Path of Water was released 13 years after the first installment captivated audiences with its pioneering 3D technology. “Avatar” remains the highest-grossing movie of all time, with $2.9 billion worldwide.