Disney and James Cameron’s third Avatar movie, “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” earned $12 million in early preview screenings in the U.S. The second installment, “The Way of Water,” made $5 million more in previews last year. Analysts project “Fire and Ash” will gross over $100 million during its opening weekend in the U.S. and Canada.

Internationally, “Avatar: Fire and Ash” raked in $43.1 million in preview screenings. The film’s performance will be critical in shaping the annual box office totals for 2024, according to Comscore’s Paul Dergarabedian.

Despite its success, the Avatar franchise has not achieved the same cultural impact as Star Wars or Marvel. However, both “Avatar” and “The Way of Water” have earned over $2 billion each at the global box office, with the first film nearing $3 billion.

James Cameron’s films are known for grand visuals and storytelling, attracting audiences to theaters for the unique experience. The franchise has consistently thrived on premium large format and 3D tickets, especially in international markets like China.

While “Avatar” has seen success overseas, the franchise has struggled to maintain cultural relevance like other Disney-owned properties. However, the unique experience offered by James Cameron’s films continues to draw audiences to theaters, particularly for 3D showings.

Disney reported international preview sales for “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” excluding China, with an estimated opening day of $17.1 million. Despite a lower box office opening compared to “The Way of Water,” analysts anticipate strong international performance for the film. Premium screens are expected to remain popular into the new year.

Read more at CNBC: Fire and Ash’ tops $12 million in Thursday previews