Box Office Blockbuster: 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' Debuts Strong as Counterprogramming Titles Find Their Audience

Wide Release Weekend and Box Office Leaders

'Avatar: Fire and Ash' opened to a robust box office debut, grossing an estimated $88 million domestically and $345 million worldwide in its first weekend, signaling strong holiday moviegoing demand for big-budget tentpoles and family-friendly spectacle[1].

The film faced competition from several new releases aimed at different audience segments, but still led the weekend receipts as studios position major releases for the Christmas and New Year moviegoing period[1].

Notable Counterprogramming: Thrillers, Faith-Based, and Animated Options

Among counterprogramming offerings, Lionsgate’s psychological thriller 'The Housemaid', starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, opened to roughly $19 million in about 3,015 theaters, carving out space as an R-rated adult option over the holiday frame[1].

Faith-based and family fare also made an impact: Angel Studios’ 'David' and Paramount’s new SpongeBob movie provided alternatives for audiences seeking different tones than the Avatar franchise[1].

Per-Theater Highlights and Awards-Season Positioning

A24’s 'Marty Supreme' opened in a limited release and posted a notable per-theater average—about $145,000 in six theaters—earning the best per-theater average of the year so far and setting a new mark for the studio ahead of its wider release during awards season[1].

Industry observers noted that strong limited-release results for prestige titles can build awards momentum and publicity ahead of broader openings later in the holiday window[1].

What Comes Next for Theaters This Holiday Week

Studios plan further expansions and new wide releases starting Christmas Day, including A24’s broader rollout of 'Marty Supreme', Focus Features’ 'Song Sung Blue' starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, and Sony’s comedy 'Anaconda' with Jack Black and Paul Rudd, increasing the competitive mix for last-week-of-December ticket sales[1].

Box office tracking services will publish final domestic figures early next week, but the weekend estimates suggest theaters remain a significant holiday destination for U.S. audiences seeking both blockbuster spectacle and varied counterprogramming[1].

Quick takeaways

• 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' — clear weekend leader with strong domestic and global opening estimates[1].
• 'The Housemaid' — solid R-rated counterprogramming debut with $19M opening[1].
• 'Marty Supreme' — limited release breakout with exceptional per-theater average, positioning it for awards-season attention[1].