Avatar's sequel crosses $700M mark over Christmas weekend...despite massive winter storm

Avatar's sequel, The Way of Water, claimed the top spot for the second straight week in a row with $19.5 million grossed over the holiday weekend.

Despite a frigid winter storm across the United States knocking out power at some theaters and shut down highways, the highly-awaited science fiction epic managed to cross the cross the $700 million mark worldwide, according to The Wrap. 

The outlet reported that industry experts predicted a higher total for the movie over the last four days, after it garnered $434.5million at the box office during its global debut.

Going strong: Avatar's sequel, The Way of Water, claimed the top spot for the second straight week in a row with $19.5 million grossed over the holiday weekend

Avatar's director James Cameron said the film, which tied with The Batman as the fourth highest domestic debut of the year needs to earn $2 billion to break even. 

The original Avatar didn't have a monstrous opening weekend, opening in mid-December 2009 to $77 million... though it ultimately grossed a then-record $749.7 million domestic and a still-record $2.7 billion (which has since grown to $785.2 million domestic and $2.9 billion global with re-releases). 

Some box office analysts predicted that Avatar: The Way of Water could be just the fourth December release to cross the $200 million opening weekend threshold. 

Impressive: Despite a frigid winter storm across the United States knocking out power at some theaters and shut down highways, the highly-awaited science fiction epic managed to cross the cross the $700 million mark worldwide, according to The Wrap

Two weeks in a row: The outlet reported that industry experts predicted a 'much higher' total for the movie over the last four days, after it garnered $434.5million at the box office during its global debut

The only three films to accomplish that feat were Marvel's 2021 blockbuster Spider-Man: No Way Home and two of the three Star Wars sequels - 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($248 million) and 2017's Star Wars: The Last Jedi ($220 million). 

The original Avatar's road to box office history was an unusual one, with most top-grossing films accomplishing this with top-loaded massive opening weekends.

Back in 2009, the opening weekend box office record was held by The Dark Knight, which opened to $158.4 million in mid-July 2008, topping out at $533.3 million domestic and just over $1 billion worldwide.

Avatar's success was largely due to consistent viewings at a level rarely seen at the box office, which allowed it to maintain the top spot for eight weeks in a row.

Huge budget: Avatar's director James Cameron said the film, which tied with The Batman as the fourth highest domestic debut of the year needs to earn $2 billion to break even

While most films drop off 50% or more in its second weekend and beyond, Avatar dropped just 1.8% in its second weekend and 9.4% in its third weekend, never dropping more than 50% until its 16th weekend of its 34-week run.

Avatar: The Way of Water brings fans back to the magical world of Pandora, where former Marine Jake Sully has made a new life and family with Neytiri (Zoe Saldana).

Stephen Lang returns as Miles Quaritch with new cast members including Kate Winslet, Giovani Ribisi, Jemaine Clement and more.

Star-studded cast: Avatar: The Way of Water brings fans back to the magical world of Pandora, where former Marine Jake Sully has made a new life and family with Neytiri (Zoe Saldana)