James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water returned to Indian theatres on October 2, 2025, for a one-week re-release. Disney brought it back ahead of December’s Avatar: Fire and Ash to rebuild buzz around the franchise.
The plan was clear — remind you of Pandora’s magic and give a taste of Fire and Ash through exclusive footage. But the move didn’t work. The re-release earned just about ₹5 crore across India, falling well below expectations.
Despite premiering a day before the United States, the turnout stayed low. The film struggled against major local hits like Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari and Kantara Chapter 1, which dominated theatres. Audiences seemed uninterested in rewatching a two-year-old movie, even with unseen clips.
The limited screen count also hurt performance. Many in the industry believe the timing and weak marketing played a role. Indian moviegoers have moved on, and Hollywood re-releases rarely find takers unless the experience feels new.
The poor box office run now raises concerns about the franchise’s pull in India. As Avatar: Fire and Ash gears up for its December release, Disney faces pressure to reignite genuine excitement among Indian fans who once made The Way of Water a record-breaking hit.
