Thanks to grossing more than $20.6 million in cinemas across the province since the release of the second film in the saga last December avatar is now the biggest hit in Quebec box office history.
• Also read – Box office hit: “Avatar 2” overtakes “Titanic” to become the third-biggest box office grosser of all time
With earnings of $20,607,147 as of last Sunday, Avatar 2: The Way of the Water grossed the $20,596,891 that the first film in the franchise earned when it was released in December, according to figures compiled by the Cinéac agency had taken in 2009, just surpassed.
Director James Cameron can therefore boast of producing the three biggest hits in Quebec box office history, namely the first two Avatars and Titanic ($19.5 million).
The phenomenal success of Avatar 2 in Quebec theaters has brought a breath of fresh air to theater owners who have endured a difficult three years due to the pandemic.
“After the pandemic, the big question was whether people were willing to come back to see movies in theaters, and Avatar 2 clearly proved to us that they were,” notes Éric Bouchard, Co-President of the Association of Theater Owners of Quebec.
“The success of Avatar 2 gave us momentum to start the year well. It was the big movie we’ve all been waiting for and it really delivered the goods. »
15 weeks
According to Mr. Bouchard, Avatar 2 still has gas in the tank. Fifteen weeks after its release, James Cameron’s film was the sixth most popular title in Quebec cinemas this past weekend. Quite an achievement for a time when some films only stay on screens for three or four weeks.
“Avatar 2 was again the second best-performing film over the weekend at my theater in Saint-Jérôme,” says Eric Bouchard. Today we closed the cinema program of Saint-Eustache [lundi] and I can tell you it will be shown next weekend! »
Note that Quebec is currently one of the few places on the planet where the second avatar’s earnings have surpassed the first. Globally, the first film in the saga still ranks as the highest-grossing film of all time at the box office, earning $2.9 billion. Avatar 2: The Waterway ranks third at $2.3 billion, behind Avengers: Endgame, which grossed $2.8 billion.
It’s the fourth film in the John Wick saga to end the weekend at the top of Quebec’s box office, raking in $925,714 during its first three days in theaters, according to figures compiled by Cineac agency.