James Cameron's science fiction epic Avatar: Fire and Ash has crossed $1 billion in global box office receipts, becoming the director's fourth film to reach that milestone.

 

The film, which returns audiences to the visually stunning planet of Pandora, has earned $1.03 billion in worldwide ticket sales, Walt Disney Studios announced on Sunday.

 

Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore's head of marketplace trends, said the franchise consistently draws audiences to theatres. He noted that the visually spectacular 3D films are "tailor-made" for the cinema experience.

 

The original Avatar opened in 2009 and generated $2.9 billion in ticket sales worldwide, making it the highest-grossing movie ever in absolute dollars, according to Comscore. 

 

However, the 1939 classic Gone With the Wind still holds the record even if box office returns account for inflation and average ticket prices over the decades.

 

Thirteen years later, Avatar: The Way of Water opened in 2022 and grossed more than $2.3 billion globally. The sequel won an Oscar for best achievement in visual effects.

 

Disney released the latest instalment in time for the holiday season. The film has racked up $306 million in the US and Canada, and $777.1 million internationally, the studio reported.

 

Cameron's first billion-dollar blockbuster came with Titanic in 1997, which has earned nearly $2.3 billion worldwide.