Avatar: The Way Of Water sailed to the highest of the field workplace in its second weekend, bringing in a robust 56 million US {dollars} (£46.3 million) in North America that means it might keep afloat into the brand new yr and strategy the huge expectations that met its launch.

James Cameron’s digital extravaganza for twentieth Century Studios has made 253.7 million {dollars} (£210 million) domestically in its first 10 days of launch, in contrast with 212.7 million {dollars} (£176 million) in the identical stretch for 2009’s first Avatar, which might go on to turn out to be the highest-grossing movie of all time.

While Cameron’s movies such because the Avatar authentic and Titanic are likely to have severe legs on the field workplace, sequels are likely to open large and decline rapidly, complicating guesses on the place the movie will find yourself.

Its second-weekend drop-off from the 134 million {dollars} it made in its first was not precipitous, given the way in which blockbusters open.

“This is James Cameron’s first 100 million dollar opener,” mentioned Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore.

“For this movie to have opened that big and only dropped 58%, it shows it has staying power.”

Globally, The Way Of Water is already the third highest-grossing movie launched in 2022, bringing in 855 million {dollars} (£707.8 million) – placing it behind solely Top Gun: Maverick and Jurassic World Dominion – and is a lock to surpass one billion {dollars} (£827.8 million).

It can be clear crusing for the movie wanting forward, with extra vacation time coming and no comparable competitors till February, when Marvel’s Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania is launched.

Storms throughout the US may hold folks residence, nevertheless.

“The biggest foe that Avatar is facing at this moment is the weather,” Mr Dergarabedian mentioned.

Universal’s animated Shrek spin-off, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, that includes the voices of Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek, completed a distant second with 11.35 million {dollars} (£9.4 million) in its opening weekend.

Sony’s biopic Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody completed third with 5.3 million {dollars} (£4.4 million).

The weekend’s largest disappointment was Babylon, the epic of early Hollywood from La La Land director Damien Chazelle starring Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie.

In a nationwide launch it introduced in simply 3.5 million {dollars} (£2.9 million), ending fourth.

The tepid, 6.5 million greenback (£5.4 million) opening weekend in October of director David O Russell’s Amsterdam, one other movie set in the same interval that mixed status, scope, star energy and a celebrated auteur, introduced trade worries that audiences have been simply not flocking to cinemas for such movies.

The considerations proved justified, as Babylon barely made greater than half of the opening of Amsterdam.

The coming weeks in cinemas, streaming showings and any nominations it might get may assist Babylon rise above bomb standing.

“I would say Babylon is a movie that isn’t about the opening weekend,” Mr Dergarabedian mentioned. “We’ll have to see what it does in the coming weeks then into the new year, particularly if it gets more awards buzz.”

– Estimated ticket gross sales for Friday via to Sunday at US and Canadian cinemas, based on Comscore, with Wednesday via to Sunday in parentheses. Final home figures will likely be launched on Monday.

1. Avatar: The Way Of Water, 56 million {dollars}.

2. Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, 11.35 million {dollars}.

3. Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody, 5.3 million {dollars}.

4. Babylon, 3.5 million {dollars}.

5. Violent Night, 3.14 million {dollars}.

6. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, three million {dollars}.

7. The Whale, 924,000 {dollars}.

8. The Menu, 617,000 {dollars}.

9. The Fabelmans, 550,000 {dollars}.

10. Strange World, 410,000 {dollars}.