Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2009 sci-fi blockbuster has grossed over $1 billion worldwide.
An amount already astronomical but nevertheless still insufficient, according to its director James Cameron, who estimated that it would be necessary to collect at least double to cover its costs.
The first "Avatar" won $2.9 billion, a record.
Again set on the planet Pandora, "Avatar: The Way of the Water" features U.S. Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), now permanently ensconced in his Na'vi body, those tall, blue-skinned native inhabitants. , and works with them to protect their habitat from a dire threat.
Another sequel, “Puss in Boots 2: The Last Quest,” slipped to second place on the podium with 22 million for its second weekend in theaters.
In this children's film from the universe of the "Shrek" saga, the feline embarks on an epic adventure to restore its nine lives.
'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever', the sequel to 2018's smash-hit Afro-futuristic Marvel film, climbs from fifth to third place, raking in 6.5 million to reach a total of 439.6 million in eight weeks of showing .
In fourth, we find the biopic on singer Whitney Houston, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody", which recorded 5.4 million for its second weekend.
And the feature film "Babylon", a vibrant tribute to the gifted Damien Chazelle in 1920s Hollywood, starring Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt, collected only $3.6 million for its second week, six years after the triumph of "La La Land".
Here's the rest of the top 10:
6. "Violent Night" ($2.8 million)
7. "The Whale" (1.8 million)
8. "The Fabelmans" (1.6 million)
9. "The Menu" (1.4 million)
10. "Avalonia, the strange journey" (747,000 dollars)
© 2023 AFP