Avatar: Fire and Ash Tops The Empire Strikes Back with $306M Domestic

Collider reports that James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash has surpassed Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back at the domestic box office, grossing $306 million in North America to overtake Empire’s $292 million.

The Empire Strikes Back, released in 1980 and re-released multiple times, has long been treated as a gold standard for blockbuster sequels, making the milestone notable. The film currently sits at a 67% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 90% Verified Audience score. Ross Bonaime gave it 7/10 and wrote: "This third Avatar film might not have the groundbreaking impact of the first film, or the vast improvement that The Way of Water had over what came before it, but Fire and Ash is still an exceptional moviegoing experience that proves there’s still plenty of gas in this tank. This newest Avatar entry might show that history is repeating itself, and the franchise could start spinning its wheels, but Cameron and his team give plenty to explore in the world and open up to in future installments. Fire and Ash proves yet again that no one is making action films — and films in general — quite like James Cameron."

The film is listed with a December 19, 2025 release date and a runtime of 197 minutes, and is directed by James Cameron.

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Culture, Avatar Franchise, James Cameron, Empire Strikes Back, Pandora, Rotten Tomatoes