Fire and Ash Hits Billion-Dollar Milestone

Key Takeaways

• "Avatar: Fire and Ash" has topped the box office for the third straight week, clearing $1 billion worldwide in just three weeks of release
• The movie industry is coming off a poor 2025, but studios are cautiously optimistic that 2026 could be the best box-office year of the decade
• A release slate filled with marquee franchises, including new "Toy Story," "Avengers," "Spider-Man," "Super Mario Bros" and "Dune" movies, has raised hopes of a turnaround
• "Zootopia 2" has amassed $1.59 billion in six weeks, making it Disney’s second highest grossing animated movie ever
• The movie industry is awaiting a potentially seismic shift with Warner Bros. agreeing to sell to Netflix for $83 billion

Introduction to the 2026 Box Office
The year 2026 has kicked off on a high note for Hollywood, with "Avatar: Fire and Ash" topping the box office for the third straight week. The third chapter in James Cameron’s Pandora epic has cleared $1 billion worldwide in just three weeks of release, with $777.1 million of that coming from international markets. The movie’s success has been a significant boost to the industry, which is coming off a disappointing 2025. According to studio estimates, "Avatar: Fire and Ash" collected $40 million over its third weekend in North American theaters, cementing its position as one of the biggest movies of the year so far.

The Success of "Zootopia 2"
But "Avatar: Fire and Ash" is not the only movie that has been doing well at the box office. "Zootopia 2" has been a sustained success, landing in second place with $19 million over the weekend, dipping a mere 4% from the previous weekend. The animated sequel has amassed $1.59 billion in six weeks, making it Disney’s second highest grossing animated movie ever, trailing only 2019’s photorealistic "The Lion King" ($1.66 billion). The movie’s success is a testament to the enduring popularity of the "Zootopia" franchise and the appeal of animated movies to audiences around the world.

Other Notable Performers
In addition to "Avatar: Fire and Ash" and "Zootopia 2", several other movies have been performing well at the box office. "The Housemaid", a twisty thriller starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, collected $14.9 million over the weekend, giving it $75.7 million domestically over three weeks. The movie’s success is a testament to the star power of Sweeney, who is also starring in the HBO series "Euphoria". Another movie that has been doing well is "Marty Supreme", which grossed an estimated $12.6 million over the weekend. The movie, which stars Timothée Chalamet, has grossed $56 million in North America, passing the director’s previous film, "Uncut Gems" ($50 million worldwide).

The State of the Movie Industry
The movie industry is coming off a poor 2025, where domestic moviegoing continued to slide. U.S. and Canada ticket sales in 2025 amounted to $8.9 billion, a 2% increase from the year earlier, but about 20% below pre-pandemic levels. The industry is now awaiting a potentially seismic shift with Warner Bros., one of the most theatrical-friendly studios, agreeing to sell to Netflix for $83 billion. The deal, which awaits regulatory approval, could have significant implications for the future of the movie industry. Despite these challenges, studios are cautiously optimistic that 2026 could be the best box-office year of the decade, with a release slate filled with marquee franchises, including new "Toy Story," "Avengers," "Spider-Man," "Super Mario Bros" and "Dune" movies.

The Top 10 Movies at the Box Office
The top 10 movies at the box office for the weekend were:

1. "Avatar: Fire and Ash", $40 million
2. "Zootopia 2", $19 million
3. "The Housemaid", $14.9 million
4. "Marty Supreme", $12.6 million
5. "Anaconda", $10 million
6. "The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants", $8.2 million
7. "David", $8 million
8. "Song Sung Blue", $5.9 million
9. "Wicked: For Good", $3.3 million
10. "Five Nights at Freddy’s 2", $2.7 million
    These movies represent a diverse range of genres and styles, from action-adventure movies like "Avatar: Fire and Ash" to animated movies like "Zootopia 2" and "The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants".

Conclusion
In conclusion, the 2026 box office has kicked off on a high note, with "Avatar: Fire and Ash" and "Zootopia 2" leading the way. The success of these movies, along with other notable performers like "The Housemaid" and "Marty Supreme", has raised hopes that 2026 could be the best box-office year of the decade. Despite the challenges facing the movie industry, including the decline of domestic moviegoing and the potential impact of the Warner Bros.-Netflix deal, studios are cautiously optimistic about the future. With a release slate filled with marquee franchises and a diverse range of movies, the 2026 box office is shaping up to be an exciting and unpredictable year.