'Avatar: The Way Of Water' Looking At Possible $150 Million Opening Weekend

James Cameron's highly anticipated sequel, "Avatar: The Way of Water," making some boffo box office likely isn't surprising to many. Regardless, after 13 years, the sequel to the iconic sci-fi blockbuster is finally in theaters, and the film is looking poised for a big opening weekend. Deadline reports that the film is currently estimated for a $55 million opening day, and it has a decent shot at bringing in $150 million domestically this weekend.

Per Deadline's numbers, the $55 million Friday take for the sequel would include $17 million from early Thursday night previews. It would give the new "Avatar" film the sixth highest-grossing Friday in December, ahead of "The Hobbit" bringing in $37.1 million in December 2012.

Some projections have the opening weekend at $120 million, but that doesn't include presales and advance ticket sale figures. For comparison, the first "Avatar" made around $77 million domestically for its opening weekend at a similar time of year in December 2009.

The good news for "The Way of Water" is that it still has two major winter holiday weekends to boost its numbers in the coming weeks between Christmas and New Year's Day. Deadline notes that if "Avatar: The Way of Water" falls below projections, it's likely due to audiences still waiting to secure the best seats in the most premium format possible.

So, even if "The Way of Water's" opening weekend might seem comparatively low to the opening weekends of other major blockbusters this year, such as "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" ($181 million), "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" ($187 million), and "Top Gun: Maverick" ($160 million for the extended holiday weekend), "The Way of Water" will have most of the holiday break to itself.

The only other major releases coming up next week ahead of Christmas are "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish," "Babylon," and the Whitney Houston biopic "I Wanna Dance With Somebody." Those films might provide some decent counterprogramming, but they are unlikely to unseat "Avatar: The Way of Water" in the coming weeks.

Interestingly enough, while the sequel won't be released in Russia, where the first film made $116 million, it will receive a theatrical release in China, per Box Office Mojo. The first "Avatar" made $203 million in China during its original release, so studio executives are likely very happy about that. A number of recent blockbusters have not been released in China, such as the recent Marvel Studios films. The franchise is also still very popular in the region, with a 2021 re-release of the film earning another $57 million.

Thus far, "The Way of Water" performed decently with critics, with a 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. By comparison, the first movie has an 82% rating. Deadline also noted that the film is scoring very high based on audience reactions from Comscore/Screen Engine's Posttrak.

"Avatar: The Way of Water" is directed by Cameron from a script he co-wrote with Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver. It features returning cast members Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, and Sigourney Weaver. New cast members include Cliff Curtis and Oscar-winner Kate Winslet, who previously worked with Cameron on 1997's juggernaut "Titanic."

The first "Avatar" finished with $750 million at the domestic box office and $2.74 billion worldwide, so it will be interesting to see where the sequel finishes up all these years later. "Avatar: The Way of Water" is now playing in theaters.