James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash landed in mainland China on December 19, 2025, raking in 101 million yuan (about $14 million) on its first day 🎬. That's nearly half of all cinemas' screenings dedicated to this 198-minute sci-fi spectacle!
With a runtime of 3 hours and 18 minutes, the movie hogged 46% of showtimes on opening day. Long runtimes can be a scheduling puzzle for theatres, yet fans seem happy to settle in for an immersive journey 🍿.
Picking up from The Way of Water, Cameron revealed at this year's Hainan International Film Festival that parts 2 and 3 were originally one story, later split to give each film its own dramatic arc. The result? More emotional beats and jaw-dropping visuals that push VFX to the next level 🤯.
This strong debut shows mainland Chinese audiences still crave big-budget, tech-driven blockbusters. From ultra-realistic motion capture to next-gen 3D, Avatar's effects set the bar higher – and hint at what's next for global cinema fans in South and Southeast Asia.
Whether you caught it in Jakarta, Dhaka, or Ho Chi Minh City, Avatar: Fire and Ash is proving that when it comes to cinematic spectacle, the biggest screens still rule. Have you seen it yet? Share your thoughts below! 👇
Reference(s):
Avatar opens in China with $14 mln first-day box office takings
cgtn.com
