Avatar: The Way of Water is breathing some life into an otherwise dead box office weekend, though it’s still coming below projections. James Cameron’s Avatar sequel earned $53 million on its first day. It’s now expected to earn between $130 million and $150 million, with previous projections putting it at a solid $150 million or higher. Those numbers may rise throughout the weekend as the approaching holidays may have people buying tickets at the last minute rather than in advance. Avatar: The Way of Water has received mostly positive reviews from critics. It has a 78% Fresh rating on , and a consensus that reads, “Narratively, it might be fairly standard stuff — but visually speaking, Avatar: The Way of Water is a stunningly immersive experience.”
ComicBook.com’s Liam Crowley had high praise for the film, awarding it a 5-out-of-5 review. He writes, “Film is an ever-evolving medium that, for better or worse, demands a “what have you done for me lately” hunger from its audience. In the 13 years between Avatar films, fans have been treated to a rebirth of Star Wars, the meteoric rise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and an overall box office boom that has made billion-dollar pictures a regular occurrence. With an abundance of theatrical treats over the past decade, the magic of Avatar (2009) has been somewhat overlooked. If there was any doubt, James Cameron reminds audiences exactly what he’s capable of. Words don’t do Avatar: The Way of Water justice. While this film has all the makings of a once-in-a-lifetime theatrical experience, audiences should relish in the fact that there is much more to come.”
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Avatar: The Way of Water is now playing in theatres. The full list of the top 10 films at the box office this weekend follows.
1. Avatar: The Way of Water
- Opening Weekend
- Total: $130 milliopn
Jake Sully and Ney’tiri have formed a family and are doing everything to stay together. However, they must leave their home and explore the regions of Pandora. When an ancient threat resurfaces, Jake must fight a difficult war against the humans.
James Cameron directed Avatar: The Way of Water from a screenplay he co-wrote with Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver. The film’s cast includes Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Giovanni Ribisi, Dileep Rao, Matt Gerald, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Edie Falco, and Jemaine Clement.
2. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- Week Six
- Total: $5.3 million
- Total: $418.9 million
Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M’Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with Nakia and Everett Ross to forge a new path for their beloved kingdom.
Ryan Coogler directed Black Panther: Wakanda Forever from a screenplay he co-wrote with Joe Robert Cole. The movie stars Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Florence Kasumba, Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Tenoch Huerta, Martin Freeman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Angela Bassett.
3. Violent Night
- Week Three
- Weekend: $5.02 million
- Total: $35 million
An elite team of mercenaries breaks into a family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone hostage inside. However, they aren’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.
Tommy Wirkola directed Violent Night, from a screenplay written by Pat Casey and Josh Miller. The film stars David Harbour, John Leguizamo, Alex Hassell, Alexis Louder, Edi Patterson, Cam Gigandet, Leah Brady, and Beverly D’Angelo.
4. Strange World
- Week Four
- Weekend: $2.2 million
- Total: $33.8 million
The Clades are a legendary family of explorers whose differences threaten to topple their latest and most crucial mission into uncharted and treacherous territory.
Don Hall directed Strange World from a script by co-director Qui Nguyen. The film’s voice cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Jaboukie Young-White, Gabrielle Union, and Lucy Liu.
5. The Menu
- Week Five
- Weekend: $1.64 million
- Total: $32.1 million
Margot is invited by foodie Tyler to travel with him and a group of other food lovers to a coastal island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where Chef Slowik has prepared a lavish menu. From the beginning, Margot finds everything strange, from the woman who greets them at the boat, to the tiny portions and the odd offerings. Chef Slowik is also as strange as they come. But she soon discovers far more shocking surprises are yet to come, including a massive secret that Tyler’s been keeping from her.
Mark Mylod directed The Menu from a screenplay written by Seth Reiss and Will Tracy. The film stars Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Hong Chau, Janet McTeer, Reed Birney, Judith Light, and John Leguizamo.
6. Devotion
- Week Four
- Weekend: $885,000
- Total: $18.7 million
The inspirational true story of Jesse Brown, the first Black aviator in U.S. Navy history, and his enduring friendship with fellow fighter pilot Tom Hudner. Helping to turn the tide in the most brutal battle in the Korean War, their heroic sacrifices ultimately make them the Navy’s most celebrated wingmen.
J. D. Dillard directed Devotion from a screenplay written by Jake Crane and Jonathan Stewart, based on the book Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice by Adam Makos. It stars Jonathan Majors, Glen Powell, Christina Jackson, Joe Jonas, Nick Hargrove, Spencer Neville, Thomas Sadoski, and Daren Kagasoff.
7. The Fabelmans
- Week Six
- Weekend: $750,000
- Total: $8.7 million
Young Sammy Fabelman falls in love with movies after his parents take him to see “The Greatest Show on Earth.” Armed with a camera, Sammy starts to make his own films at home, much to the delight of his supportive mother.
Steven Spielberg directed The Fabelmans from a screenplay he wrote with Tony Kushner. The film’s cast includes Gabriel LaBelle, Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, and Judd Hirsch.
8. Black Adam
- Week Nine
- Weekend: $467,000
- Total: $167.6 million
In ancient Kahndaq, Teth Adam was bestowed the almighty powers of the gods. After using these powers for vengeance, he was imprisoned, becoming Black Adam. Nearly 5,000 years have passed, and Black Adam has gone from man to myth to legend. Now free, his unique form of justice, born out of rage, is challenged by modern-day heroes who form the Justice Society: Hawkman, Dr. Fate, Atom Smasher, and Cyclone.
Jaume Collet-Serra directed Black Adam from a script by Adam Sztykiel, Rory Haines, and Sohrab Noshirvani. It stars Dwayne Johnson, Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo, Sarah Shahi, Marwan Kenzari, Quintessa Swindell, Bodhi Sabongui, and Pierce Brosnan.
9. I Heard the Bells
- Week Three
- Weekend: $303,000
- Total: $4.8 million
Known as America’s Poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow leads an idyllic life, until the day his world is shattered by tragedy. With a nation divided by the Civil War and his family torn apart, Henry puts down his pen. The sound of Christmas morning reignites the poet’s lost voice, and he discovers his rekindled faith.
Joshua Enck directed I Heard the Bells. The film stars Rachel Day Hughes, Stephen Atherholt, and Jonathan Blair.
10. Elf
- Week One (of re-release)
- Weekend: $278,500
- Total: $178.1 million
Buddy was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa’s elves. Unable to shake the feeling that he doesn’t fit in, the adult Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. As it happens, this is Walter Hobbs, a cynical businessman. After a DNA test proves this, Walter reluctantly attempts to start a relationship with the childlike Buddy with increasingly chaotic results.
Jon Favreau directed Elf from a screenplay written by David Berenbaum. The film stars Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen, Edward Asner, and Bob Newhart.
