Sunit Jangir

Sunit Jangir

1086 Articles

As a Senior Editor at Sacnilk, Sunit Jangir leads our coverage on Indian cinema, box office analytics, and global entertainment trends. Passionate about Cricket, Sunit Jangir is an avid sports lover. He finds inspiration in other people's life stories and try to absorb them. Though introvert by nature, he doesn't feel shy when the topic is cinema and sports, particularly cricket.

Articles Written By Sunit Jangir

Avatar Fire and Ash Box Office: James Cameron's Film Debuts With $345 Million Worldwide
169 days ago
Hollywood

Avatar Fire and Ash Box Office: James Cameron's Film Debuts With $345 Million Worldwide

Mumbai, December 22 - It has been more than a decade since James Cameron's Avatar franchise kicked off in 2009, and it still carries that fire when it comes to the box office as the latest instalment - Avatar: Fire and Ash just broke the bank at the worldwide weekend box office. The third film in Cameorn's planned 5-part sci-fi epic has one of the biggest openings for a 2025 title, even when it couldn't match the opening of its predecessor - Avatar: Way of Water. Touted as the darkest chapter of the franchise yet, Fire and Ash delivered a worldwide opening weekend of $347.30 million. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Avatar: Fire & Ash has had the third biggest global opening of 2025, behind only Zootopia 2 ($560.30 million) and China's animated title Ne Zha 2 ($431.20 million). In comparison to the other Avatar movies, the latest instalment lands in between Avatar ($232 million) and Avatar: Way of Water ($441.70 million). The film's domestic (North America) opening weekend lended at $89.20 million, which took a big dip from Way of Water's $134.10 million launch but better than the original Avatar's $77 million debut. Overseas, the film minted $258.10 million, against Way of Water's $307.60 million. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) China was the biggest international market for the film in its opening weekend, with $57.6 million, followed by France with $21.4 million, and Germany with $18 million. In India, the sci-fi epic debuted with $9.2 million (82+ crores gross) over the 3-day weekend, which is a good collection but significantly down from Way of Water's 157 crore gross opening weekend. Avatar films are known for their longevity at the global box office, and the trade is already on the job to understand how far it can go. While the trade is ruling out the $2 billion club, the movie is still expected to make $1.5+ billion worldwide, which is roughly 4x its budget. Stay tuned...

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Avatar Fire and Ash Box Office: The Sci-Fi Epic Tops 50 Crore Gross In 2 Days In India
171 days ago
Hollywood

Avatar Fire and Ash Box Office: The Sci-Fi Epic Tops 50 Crore Gross In 2 Days In India

Mumbai, December 20 - James Cameron's long-awaited sci-fi spectacle Avatar: Fire & Ash, the third instalment in the blockbuster franchise, opened to an underwhelming response at the Indian box office. The film collected 23.25 crore ($2.6 million) on its opening day, which is nearly half of what Avatar: The Way of Water earned on Day 1 in India in 2022. The film's opening day box office potential was cut short by Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar, which is currently dominating the box office. Fire & Ash needed a big jump on its second day to remain competitive. While the figures are well below the franchise's previous benchmark, the film did manage a decent growth of around 15% on Saturday, offering some relief. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) There were doubts whether the film could register an upward trend after its not-so-good start, especially with Dhurandhar continuing its rampage at the box office, and it did. According to early estimates, Avatar: Fire & Ash earned in the range of 27 crore on Day 2, pushing its total India gross past the 50 crore mark. In comparison, Avatar: The Way of Water had amassed 100 crore within its first two days in India, placing the latest instalment about 50% behind at the same point. The opening weekend is now expected to close at around 75+ crore gross, a respectable figure by conventional standards, but undeniably underwhelming considering the legacy and expectations attached to the Avatar franchise. Note - Data without 3D charges. With 3D charges, the 2-day collection of Avatar 3 is around 54 crores gross. Stay tuned...

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Avatar Fire and Ash Box Office: James Cameron's Epic Opens To Half of Avatar Way of Water's Collection In India
171 days ago
Hollywood

Avatar Fire and Ash Box Office: James Cameron's Epic Opens To Half of Avatar Way of Water's Collection In India

Mumbai, December 20 - James Cameron's highly-awaited sci-fi action adventure Avatar: Fire & Ash debuted at the Indian box office on December 19, but it couldn't ignite fire on its opening day, landing 50% less than its predecessor, Avatar: Way of Water. Back in 2022, Way of Water had a monstrous start at the Indian box office, grossing close to 50 crores in all versions. Fire and Ash was carrying good hype and was expected to land in the same range, which didn't happen. Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar proved to be a big obstacle as it continued its blockbuster on the third Friday. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) As per early estimates, Avatar 3 has grossed approximately 23.25 crores ($2.6 million) on its opening day at the Indian box office. While the numbers are no means less for a foreign title, it is definitely underwhelming for the franchise, considering the immense popularity it has generated over the years, and also for director James Cameron. The initial word of mouth for the film is decent, but as said, it is up against a volcano like Dhurandhar, which is clearly overshadowing other titles at the moment. Fire & Ash is expected to see some momentum over the weekend, but it will be tough for it to see bigger jumps due to Dhurandhar. Stay tuned...

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Avatar Fire And Ash Box Office: James Cameron's Sci-Fi Projected To Open With $350 Million Worldwide
173 days ago
Hollywood

Avatar Fire And Ash Box Office: James Cameron's Sci-Fi Projected To Open With $350 Million Worldwide

Mumbai, November 18 - Releasing amid the burden of massive expectations, James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash has begun its international rollout on Wednesday, and the final box office projections suggest that the film is heading to open between Avatar and Avatar: Way of Water worldwide. According to Variety, Avatar 3 is poised to open with $90 million to $105 million from 3,800 theatres at the domestic box office, while it is expected to collect another $250 million to $275 million internationally for a global opening weekend between $340 million to $365 million. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) For the record, the original Avatar opened to $232 million worldwide in 2009, while Way of Water debuted with $441 million. So, if the projection holds, Avatar Fire and Ash are set to open between two of the highest-grossing films worldwide. There is a lot of pressure on Fire & Ash to deliver at the box office as each of the previous two films of this sci-fi franchise grossed well over $2 billion. It is worth remembering that Avatar films, apart from opening to big numbers, are known for their incredible staying power at the box office. Avatar debuted to $77 million domestically and held onto the No. 1 spot for seven weeks, eventually climbing to $760 million in North America and $2.92 billion worldwide (including re-runs). It is currently the highest-grossing film ever globally. Avatar 2 debuted with $134 million in North America, and went on to gross $688 million and $2.3 billion worldwide. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) It needs to be seen how Avatar: Fire & Ash will perform over the weeks and follow the same path as its predecessors. If the film manages to stay true to the franchise's staying power, Avatar could become the first film franchise in history with three instalments to earn above $2 billion. Currently, it is tied with MCU's two $2 billion mega hits, 2019's Avengers: Endgame and 2018's Avengers: Infinity War. In India, Avatar 3 is scheduled to release on December 19 in multiple languages. The advances for the movie are decent here, with projections suggesting 30+ crores ($3.5+ million) opening day. Avatar: Way of Water opened to nearly 50 crores gross in 2022, and went on to gross around 500 crores in its lifetime run. Stay tuned...

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Global Box Office Projected To Hit $35 Billion In 2026: Biggest Since Covid-19 Pandemic
173 days ago
Hollywood

Global Box Office Projected To Hit $35 Billion In 2026: Biggest Since Covid-19 Pandemic

Mumbai, December 18 - The worldwide box office continues to see a steady rise after getting a big jolt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and is expected to hit the record post-pandemic $35 billion in 2026, according to Gower Street Analytics (via Variety). The theatrical analytics firm predicted that 2026 will be the highest-grossing year worldwide since 2019's $42.3 billion haul, surpassing 2023's $33.9 billion. It will be a 5% increase over current estimates for 2025, marking a second consecutive year of growth. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) "We predict 2026 will be the highest grossing global year since 2019 ($42.3 billion), topping the current high of 2023 ($33.9 billion)," said Gower Street chief analyst Thomas Beranek, who led the 2026 projection work. "Especially in the markets driven by Hollywood product, we expect the most significant growth." Gower Street releases its projection each December, utilising data from the company's Forecast service based on current release calendars alongside additional analyst assessment. The firm has a respected track record in predicting box office. For 2024, the company's forecast landed within 5% of the actual global year-end result, while for 2025, the box office tracking toward a final global total within 2% of its original $33 billion forecast from 12 months ago. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) 2026 has several potential Hollywood money spinners in the likes of Avengers: Doomsday, Spider-Man 4, Star Wars Movie, Super Mario Bros 2, along with Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, the live action version of Moana, and Michael Jackson's biopic. The year can also prove to be the biggest for Indian cinema with the likes of Border 2, Toxic, Dhurandhar 2, Ramayana, King, Love & War, Jailer 2, Dragon, and many other films hitting the big screens. Stay tuned...

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Avatar Fire and Ash Box Office (Advance Booking): Sci-Fi Epic Heads To Open Lower Than Avatar Way of Water In India
176 days ago
Hollywood

Avatar Fire and Ash Box Office (Advance Booking): Sci-Fi Epic Heads To Open Lower Than Avatar Way of Water In India

Mumbai, December 15 - James Cameron's sci-fi epic Avatar: Fire & Ash is heading to take a good start at the Indian box office, but is likely to fall short of the opening of its predecessor, Avatar: Way of Water. The second instalment opened to nearly 50 crores gross in 2022, which is the second biggest opening for a Hollywood film in India. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Avatar 3 advances opened 10 days ago in India in IMAX before the regular bookings kicked off a couple of days ago. As of Monday afternoon, the film's pre-sales are trailing behind 60% of The Way of Water for the opening day, with 4 days to go for release. This is, however, better than any other Hollywood release this year. If the current momentum continues till the release day, then Fire & Ash is likely to open in the range of 30-35 crores gross in India. There is Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar, which is running riot at the box office, likely to make a dent in Fire & Ash's biz, particularly in North India. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The immense popularity of the Avatar franchise is expected to bring in a big crowd, but unlike Way of Water, the upcoming film is up against a box office juggernaut called Dhurandhar, which will pose a big challenge. As the film nears its release on December 19, word of mouth will be key for its longevity at the box office. In the film, a year after settling in with the Metkayina clan, Jake and Neytiri's family grapples with grief after Neteyam's death. They encounter a new, aggressive Na'vi tribe, the Mangkwan clan, also called the Ash People, led by the fiery tribe leader, Varang, who has allied with Jake's enemy, Quaritch, as the conflict on Pandora escalates to devastating consequences. Stay tuned...

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Zootopia 2 Box Office: Disney Animation Sequel Storms Past $1 Billion Worldwide
178 days ago
Hollywood

Zootopia 2 Box Office: Disney Animation Sequel Storms Past $1 Billion Worldwide

Los Angeles, December 13 - Walt Disney Animation Studios' Zootopia 2 has officially crossed $1 billion at the worldwide box office, becoming only the third movie of 2025 to do so after the fellow studio's live-action animated blockbuster Lilo & Stitch and Chinese mega animated hit Ne Zha 2. The sequel to 2016's buddy cop comedy, Zootopia, zoomed past the $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office on Friday after just 17 days in release. With this, it has become the fastest PG-rated film ever to unlock the milestone, beating all previous Hollywood films. It is also the 5th Disney movie to cross $1 billion mark in the last 18 months. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) While the official third Friday collection is yet to be released, Zootopia 2 grossed $986.10 million, including $232.7 million domestically and $753.4 million overseas through Thursday. It also marks the first back-to-back billion-dollar blockbuster for Walt Disney Animation Studios, following last year's Moana 2. "This milestone means the world to us, because more than anything, it means audiences are coming to theaters for a shared experience of watching this movie on the big screen, everyone together, from all walks of life around the world, and that is a Zootopia dream come true", Jared Bush, chief creative officer at Walt Disney Animation Studios, said in a statement (as per THR). (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) A large share of Zootopia 2's overall global collection comes from China, where the movie has a rare mega success for Hollywood in recent times. It has already grossed over $430 million in China, the second-highest for a Hollywood title after Avengers: Endgame ($630 million). Zootopia 2 hit theatres on November 26, ahead of Thanksgiving, and became a box-office juggernaut, of course, with the help of the Chinese market. It opened to $158 million in North America and $559 million globally over the five-day holiday weekend, which was the biggest ever opening for an animated movie worldwide and 4th biggest overall. Stay tuned...

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Avengers: Endgame Re-Release: Can Marvel's Titan Reclaim the All-Time Box Office Crown?
180 days ago
Hollywood

Avengers: Endgame Re-Release: Can Marvel's Titan Reclaim the All-Time Box Office Crown?

Los Angeles, December 11 — When Marvel Studios' Avengers: Endgame first arrived in 2019, it took the global box office by storm, becoming the highest-grossing movie of all time by dethroning fellow Disney and director James Cameron's Avatar, with an astonishing $2.79 billion. The Marvel titan temporarily outgrossed Avatar, ending its decade-long reign at the top. However, the MCU mega movie's victory was short-lived the as it shifted again when Avatar was re-released in China in 2021, where it added a strong $58 million to its tally, helping it reclaim the global box office crown. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) A year later, another re-release across 47 markets contributed an additional $76 million, pushing its worldwide total to $2.92 billion and increasing the gap with Endgame. Since Endgame's original run, only two films, Avatar: The Way of Water and China's Ne Zha 2, have crossed the $2 billion mark, but neither came close to threatening Avatar's towering lead. In a major announcement, Marvel Studios recently confirmed that Avengers: Endgame will be re-released globally in September next year, ahead of Avengers: Doomsday's release in December. It is learned that Doomsday will start where Endgame concluded, so the re-release could be kind of a recap of what happened ahead of all the next important chapters of the Avengers. While the core idea of Avengers: Endgame re-release might not be to give it a chance to reclaim the box office crown, it has certainly raised anticipation about this ultimate box office battle. The box office feat is challenging but not impossible, and that will surely make things interesting. China Could Be the Game-Changer. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) While Endgame boasts unmatched worldwide popularity, it will not be a straightforward task for the film to hit the screens again and top Avatar. Analysts believe that, if re-released, China may be the crucial market that determines its success in this renewed box office battle, given that Avatar earned $58 million from China alone during its 2021 re-release. If Endgame is to reclaim the top spot, a China re-release might not just help, it might be necessary. Marvel’s film enjoyed immense success in China during its 2019 run, grossing $632 million and becoming the biggest non-Chinese grosser there, and a renewed release there could significantly bolster its global total. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Can Endgame Make History Again? One thing that makes Endgame's case strong is that Marvel films enjoy immense popularity in all the major box office markets. With nostalgia, an enormous global fanbase, and a globally coordinated re-release, Endgame stands a realistic chance of challenging Avatar once more. If it performs strongly in major overseas territories, it may very well script one of the greatest box office comebacks ever. Stay tuned...

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Avatar: Fire and Ash Scores Golden Globe Nomination For Box Office Achievement Even Before Release: How Did It Happen?
182 days ago
Hollywood

Avatar: Fire and Ash Scores Golden Globe Nomination For Box Office Achievement Even Before Release: How Did It Happen?

Los Angeles, December 9 - Director James Cameron's highly-awaited Avatar: Fire & Ash is still over a week away from hitting the big screen, and it has already scored major award nominations. The sci-fi epic is scheduled to release on December 19 domestically and worldwide. On Monday (December 8), the nominations for the Golden Globe Awards 2026 were announced, and to everyone's surprise, Fire and Ash was nominated in the Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement category, even though it has no box office to speak of, yet. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) While the nomination for the third Avatar blockbuster came as a surprise, it wasn't out of the rules, as according to the Golden Globes' rules, films released after Nov. 22 may qualify for the box office achievement award based on their projected box office performance and/or streaming views from recognised industry sources. Fire & Ash is expected to open over $100 million at the domestic box office, and based on the past films and projections, it is likely to be among the top grossers worldwide. While the trade is projecting it as a sure shot billion dollar grosser, the question is, can it match the first two films and enter $2 billion club? (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film's Golden Globe nomination also hints that Avatar 3 is expected to make enough money to make its case strong for the prestigious honour. It has been nominated alongside F1: The Movie, KPop Demon Hunters, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Sinners, Weapons, Wicked: For Good, and Zootopia 2. Avatar: Fire & Ash is also nominated for Golden Globes in the Best Original Song category for the Dream as One song. The winners of the 83rd Golden Globe Awards will be revealed on January 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton. Stay tuned...

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Paramount Prepares For Hostile Takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery For $108 Billion
183 days ago
Hollywood

Paramount Prepares For Hostile Takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery For $108 Billion

Los Angeles, December 8 - A few days after Netflix won the bidding war to acquire Warner Bros. Pictures, HBO, and HBO Max for $82 billion, David Ellison-led Paramount Skydance has launched a hostile offer to acquire all of Warner Bros. Discovery for $30 per share. According to Paramount (via Variety), its all-cash offer equates to an enterprise value of $108.4 billion. In contrast, the Netflix proposal deal is valued at $27.75/share in a mix of cash ($23.25) and stock ($4.50), subject to a collar and the future performance of Netflix, equating to an enterprise value of $82.7 billion (excluding the TV biz), per Paramount. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Paramount sharply criticised the Netflix deal, calling it uncertain, inferior, and burdened by long regulatory timelines. "Paramount's strategically and financially compelling offer to WBD shareholders provides a superior alternative to the Netflix transaction, which offers inferior and uncertain value and exposes WBD shareholders to a protracted multi-jurisdictional regulatory clearance process with an uncertain outcome, along with a complex and volatile mix of equity and cash," the company said. This move follows months of Ellison's attempts to acquire WBD. His earlier trio of bids, including an $23.50/share offer (80% cash, 20% stock), were rejected by the WBD board in October. On December 1, Paramount returned with a renewed all-cash offer of $30/share, but the board instead selected Netflix's proposal for the studio and streaming assets. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) On Monday, the Paramount CEO said in a statement, "WBD shareholders deserve an opportunity to consider our superior all-cash offer for their shares in the entire company. Our public offer, which is on the same terms we provided to the Warner Bros. Discovery Board of Directors in private, provides superior value and a more certain and quicker path to completion. We believe the WBD Board of Directors is pursuing an inferior proposal, which exposes shareholders to a mix of cash and stock, an uncertain future trading value of the Global Networks linear cable business and a challenging regulatory approval process. We are taking our offer directly to shareholders to allow them to act in their own best interests and maximise the value of their shares." To take its case directly to investors, Paramount launched a new website, strongerhollywood.com, offering detailed breakdowns of the proposal and attacking the Netflix alternative. The company claims its acquisition could be completed in 12 months, compared to Netflix's 12–18 month expected window, conditional on regulatory approval. Stay tuned...

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Zootopia 2 Box Office (China): Outgrosses The Fate Of The Furious To Become Second Biggest Hollywood Grosser
184 days ago
Hollywood

Zootopia 2 Box Office (China): Outgrosses The Fate Of The Furious To Become Second Biggest Hollywood Grosser

Mumbai, December 7 - Disney's buddy cop comedy Zootopia 2 continues its phenomenal run in China, grossing huge $116 million in the second weekend and becomes only the second Hollywood film ever to cross $400 million in the market and is now behind only Avengers: Endgame ($632 million) to become the number 1 non-Chinese title. The animated sequel has surpassed the lifetime grosses of The Fate of the Furious ($393 million) on Saturday itself to become the second biggest Hollywood movie in China. Through the second Sunday, it has already grossed $431 million in 12 days. Trade is projecting it to reach $500 million by next weekend, reducing the gap to Engame. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film's extraordinary reception, driven by strong nostalgia and family appeal, has pushed it into the record books. It entered its second week with remarkable momentum, displaying minimal drops across weekdays. It has resonated strongly with audiences of all ages, giving it one of the best word-of-mouth trajectories for an animated release in the region. As the film continues to hold strongly, it is being projected that Zootopia 2 may add several more millions to its already staggering total. While crossing Endgame appears to be a wait-and-watch situation, the sequel's astonishing performance has already set new benchmarks for animated films. Stay tuned...

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Avengers: Endgame Returns - Marvel's Highest-Grossing Film Sets Re-Release Date
185 days ago
Hollywood

Avengers: Endgame Returns - Marvel's Highest-Grossing Film Sets Re-Release Date

Mumbai, December 6 - One of the highest-grossing films of all-time, Marvel Studios Avengers: Endgame is making its return to the big screen, ahead of Avengers: Doomsday release on December 18 next year. Originally released in 2019, the beloved Marvel epic will be re-released in theatres on September 25, 2026. The studio, however, didn't confirm whether it will be a worldwide or just a domestic (North America) re-launch, or how long the window will be. Directed by the Russo Brothers, who are also directing Doomsday, Endgame was a global phenomenon back in 2019. It stormed the box office everywhere it got released and eventually became the highest-grossing movie ever with $2.79 billion for some time before James Cameron's Avatar ($2.92 billion) reclaimed its spot. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Avengers: Endgame was the culmination of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase 3, and it proved to be the most emotional outing for Marvel fans for many reasons. The film bid goodbye to Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man, as well as Chris Evans' Captain America, and Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow, who later featured in the character's spin-off in 2021's Black Widow. The trio has been one of the major reasons behind the MCU's global success. Meanwhile, Robert Downey Jr. has returned to the MCU with Doomsday, but not as Iron Man, but as Doctor Doom, who is the main villain of the next saga. Currently in production, Doomsday will feature many notable MCU stars, including Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Letitia Wright as Black Panther, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, and Tom Hiddleston as Loki, among many others. Stay tuned...

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