“Avatar” Sequel Scores Rare Chinese Release

Disney’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” has landed a theatrical release date in China, with the film to open simultaneously with the North American release on December 16th.

20th Century Studios confirmed plans for the release through an official post on the popular social media platform Sina Weibo. This is a significant announcement as it marks the first theatrical release of a Disney film in the Middle Kingdom since 2019.

The first “Avatar” is the highest-grossing film in history at the global box office with $2.74 billion in ticket sales, roughly $202 million of which came from China across its initial theatrical release and subsequent rerelease.

The sequel, which Cameron advised the other day, needs to make around 70% of what the original made to break even. It will benefit from enthusiasm among Chinese fans of the film.

Chinese authorities have only allowed a small handful of foreign films into their market this year, with Hollywood no longer able to rely on China to boost its box-office numbers.

Source: Variety