'Avatar: the sense of water' triumphs in Spain with 84% of the box office, but does not meet expectations in the rest of the world

Avatar: The Sense of Water

James Cameron's return to his favorite universe, already has box office figures.

And they leave a bittersweet taste at Disney, their producer.

In Spain, after three days in theaters, it has raised 7.5 million euros.

The provisional data gives it 7.4 million, but when the cinemas that are yet to send their numbers are added, it will reach 7.5 million, warn industry experts.

The second part of

it could be seen on 1,983 screens (41.6% of the existing ones) in 416 cinemas in Spain, and in 21 different formats.

In the rest of the world, obviously, it leads the box office in many territories, although it has not lived up to expectations.

In the United States plus Canada, it has reached 134 million dollars (126.3 million euros), far from the 150 million (some analysts even pointed out the possibility of 175 million expected).

They are also provisional data, which can fluctuate according to the cinemas on the west coast of both countries, the last to close due to the different time zone, until they send their results.

More information

'Avatar: the sense of water': so much noise, why?

In Spain

has meant, with half of the rooms, 84% of the box office.

"But it is not something exceptional, be careful," warns David Rodríguez, general director for Spain and Portugal of ComScore, the company that audits the box office.

“Last year it happened with

and the important thing is that people go to the movies, that there is movement, because that traffic in front of the box office generates more audiences in other theaters,” he points out.

"Criticism that it is projected on many screens does not take into account the importance of the much-needed return of viewers to theaters."

If with

the comedy by Dani de la Orden that ended up raising 3.5 million euros according to data from the ICAA, the body of the Ministry of Culture and Sports in charge of cinema,

got on that wave ;

With

is

another comedy from the Segura factory, although directed by Inés de León, which adds another 400,000 euros to its collection, and thus exceeds 3.5 million euros after only three weeks in theaters.

Rodríguez points out another phenomenon, just as interesting, although smaller:

by Charlotte Wells, the jewel of British cinema

indie, which has been released in 28 cinemas and exceeded 30,000 euros, at more than 1,000 per room.

"With the new digital projections, it is better to see the average per theater than per screen," explains Rodríguez.

"And there

has obtained an exceptional 18,500 euros per cinematographic complex."

Last weekend 1.2 million people went to the cinema in Spain, the attendance record for 2022, and a great result for the post-pandemic stage in theaters.

Over 950,000 viewers sat down to watch

and 53% in 3D.

James Cameron, on December 9, attending fans at the premiere in Seoul. Ahn Young-joon (AP)

This was noticeable in complexes where the tickets for the film sold out in several sessions, such as on Sunday at the Kinépolis Ciudad de la Imagen cinema in Madrid.

Manuel Soto (53 years old), who came with his partner, had never seen the parking lot so crowded: "We stopped watching the World Cup extra time to go to the movie, and we didn't get a place in the session we wanted."

While they waited for the next 3D projection, an hour later, he explained that they were already

of the first installment: "We saw the first one, and we liked it so much that, although all second parts are usually bad, it deserves a chance" .

It seems logical to Soto that this film is projected on almost one of every two screens: "Seeing the billboard that there is is normal."

Of course, in Spain there was a desire to

When the first part was re-released in October, in two weeks it raised 2.2 million euros, and 376,000 people saw it.

In addition to couples and groups of friends, families also attended.

Celia Gorostiza (20 years old) convinced her father, Carlos (62 years old), to go see her with her.

As she left the room, her daughter enthusiastically commented that in the first installment she had loved the CGI (computer-generated imagery, in its acronym in English).

"The special effects, dad," she clarified to her father when she saw that he didn't understand what he was saying.

“Although the story wasn't the best part of the film, I always loved how they brought up that world, the relationship of the Na'vi with humans.

The second one I liked a lot and they have greatly improved the plot.

story. "

the young woman commented.

"It's not a western.

Well, yes, but less," said the father.

The Gorostiza went to see it in 2D.

“We doubted whether to go see it in 4D.

However, it was much more expensive, so we decided to see if it was worth it and then see it again in 4D ”, added Celia.

Image from 'Avatar: the sense of water'.

Of the 21 formats available, the most popular is the dubbed 2D version, although many opt for a more immersive experience in 3D or 4DX, despite the price difference: in 2D the ticket costs 9.90 euros, in 3D it costs 11.20 (12.70 with glasses) and in 4DX it goes up to 16.20 (17.70 with glasses).

This is the case of Sergio Vizcaíno (48 years old), who defines himself as "a geek of sound and image quality" and who went with his friend Alejandro Sánchez (48 years old) to see the film in 3D HFR.

“

is one of those films that make a difference when coming to the cinema, because with home cinema equipment there are few that you can't see in your living room like in the cinema.

If you also add to that the offer of

with affordable prices... It's worth coming to me, although I think the price should be more affordable if they want people to go to the movies more," Vizcaíno said.

Big event

The atmosphere of a great event that existed in the gigantic 25-screen cinema complex in Pozuelo de Alarcón has been repeated in other countries: it has been the best premiere since the pandemic in France, Germany, India, Turkey, Poland or Portugal, but far from the figures of

(grossed 660 million dollars at its start) or

In China he has come out with 57 million dollars;

instead, Marvel titles have not been released in that country since the pandemic.

On the contrary, it has not been released in Russia, when the first part collected 112 million euros there.

In Spain,

was at the time a relief for movie theaters.

In its first four days on the bill (it premiered on a Thursday in December 2021), it raised 9.3 million euros, of which 7 million were obtained over the weekend.

Therefore,

is the best premiere in Spain in the post-pandemic.

In April 2019

it was also released on a Thursday and reached 10.2 million euros, also being projected on 40% of Spanish screens.

's footage

may have worked against it at its commercial start.

"It lasts 192 minutes, which means that not everyone has come to the weekend," explains Rodríguez.

"In Spain I think it has a wider audience and much more travel over the next few weeks than

Something that has usually happened with all Cameron's cinema, more given to a long commercial journey than to the bombing of the weekend.

Its projection in Imax, a format that is not highly appreciated in Spain, has accounted for 48.8 million of the 434 million worldwide: it is the second largest premiere in the history of these rooms.

Without counting advertising and promotion expenses,

has cost 350 million euros.