AFTER an almost comically long gestating period – the original ‘Avatar’ released way back in 2009 – 'Avatar: The Way of Water' is finally out in cinemas around the world.
From Disney and 20th Century Studios, the movie came alive with a good US$53 million (RM234.5 million) gross from 4,202 locations in its opening day – that would make it the sixth highest opening day gross of the year behind 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' (US$90.7 million), 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' (US$84.2 million), 'Thor: Love and Thunder' (US$69.5 million), 'Jurassic World Dominion' (US$59.5 million), and 'The Batman' (US$56.6 million).
In comparison, the first 'Avatar' made US$26.7 million on its opening day.
Now, box office watchers look on to see how the film will work on audiences in the long run – after all, the previous entry in the franchise went on to be the highest grossing movie of all time.
Director James Cameron of course also famously directed 'Titanic', which was the highest grossing movie of all time until it was dethroned by Avatar. In 2019, 'Avengers: Endgame' came close, but a re-release of Avatar kept it on top as the king of the box office hill.
A big part of the success of ‘Avatar’ was its ushering in a new era of 3D filmmaking, which included premium formats in cinema that came with their own surcharges which in turn boasted box office.
While a few filmmakers truly embraced what 3D could do in films like ‘Gravity’ and ‘Coraline’, most of the wave of 3D movies in the years after ‘Avatar’ were shoddily done post conversions, and the format was once again killed off in cinemas.
‘The Way of Water’ brings 3D back, but now that it’s rare it is more of an event, which Cameron and the studios hope brings people back to movie theatres which are still struggling despite the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. – The Vibes, December 18, 2022
