Avatar: The Way of Water
Imax: ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ Top-Grossing Movie in 2022
January 3, 2023
Imax Corp. Jan. 3 announced that Disney-owned 20th Century Studios’ Avatar: The Way of Water ended 2022 as its highest grossing release, with a global box office of $160 million through Jan. 2, 2023.
The James Cameron-directed sequel to 2009’s Avatar now stands as the fourth-highest-grossing Imax release of all time. The film is already the highest-grossing Imax release of all time in 18 markets worldwide, and the 3D exhibitor has delivered 11% of the global gross to date.
The Way of Water helped increase Imax’s global 2022 box office 33% to $848.5 million, from in $638 million 2021.
“Imax has emerged as the destination of choice for audiences worldwide to experience [the movie], resulting in a surge of momentum across our business — from system installs to sales activity to our business in China,” CEO Rich Gelfond said in a statement.
Through Jan. 2, The Way of Water had grossed $58 million across Imax screens domestically, with the exhibitor claiming 13.1% of North American grosses. Internationally, Imax has grossed $102 million — only the third Imax release ever to cross $100 million in international box office. In China, Imax has generated 24% of the total box office on only 1% of the Middle Kingdom’s screens.
The movie will screen across Imax screens in most global markets through this month. The film debuted with the widest Imax global release of all time across 1,543 screens and is available exclusively in Imax 3D in select locations worldwide.