'Avatar' sequel sails to 2nd week atop the box office

https://www.npr.org/2022/12/26/ [login to see] /avatar-sequel-sails-to-2nd-week-atop-the-box-office
Avatar: The Way of Water sailed to the top of the box office in its second weekend, bringing in what studios estimate Sunday will be a strong $56 million in North America — a sign that the sequel may stay afloat into the new year and approach the massive expectations that met its release.

James Cameron's digital extravaganza for 20th Century Studios has made $253.7 million domestically in its first 10 days of release, compared to $212.7 million in the same stretch for 2009's first Avatar, which would go on to become the highest-grossing film of all time.

While Cameron's films like the Avatar original and Titanic tend to have serious legs at the box office, sequels tend to open big and decline quickly, complicating guesses on where the film will end up. Its second-weekend drop-off from the $134 million it made in its first was not precipitous, given the way blockbusters open.