What's in this guide
Fire and Ash cleared $1.48 billion and won an Oscar, and yet it is the first Avatar film to fall short of $2 billion. Here is where Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 actually stand.
Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 Release Dates
Disney has both films on the calendar. Avatar 4 is dated December 21, 2029, with Avatar 5 following on December 19, 2031, keeping the franchise’s pre-Christmas pattern.
Those dates have been held for some time, but a dated slot is not the same as a film in active production, and that distinction matters here.
What Fire and Ash Actually Earned
Avatar: Fire and Ash grossed roughly $1.486 billion worldwide, about $404 million domestic and $1.081 billion international. It ranked as the third-highest-grossing film of its year behind Zootopia 2 and Ne Zha 2, and sits around 16th on the all-time list.
It also won the 2026 Academy Award for Visual Effects. By any normal standard, an enormous success.
The complication is the comparison. The original Avatar earned $2.9 billion and still holds the all-time record. The Way of Water earned $2.3 billion. Fire and Ash is the first in the series not to reach $2 billion, on a production budget among the largest in the industry.
Three films, three billion-dollar hauls, and the highest-grossing trilogy ever made. Yet Fire and Ash is the first Avatar to finish under $2 billion.
How Much Has Been Filmed
Only a portion of Avatar 4 has been shot. Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, who plays Tuk, said at the Saturn Awards that a small amount of footage exists, and that it comes from before the long-discussed time jump.
That time jump is the structural pivot of the back half of the saga. It ages up the Sully children and, per Cameron, opens the story out considerably. It is also why some material had to be captured early, while the younger cast were still the right age.
What Cameron Has Said
Cameron had been openly cautious before Fire and Ash released, noting the third film would need to perform strongly for the remaining sequels to proceed as planned. He is now 71, and would be close to 80 by the time a 2031 release arrives.
Disney executives have since stated the next two instalments will happen. Full production details have not been confirmed, and events like D23 are the likely venues for firmer news.
Where That Leaves Things
The honest read: the films are dated, Disney says they are happening, and a meaningful chunk of Avatar 4 is already shot. But nothing about the scale of production has been formally confirmed, and $1.48 billion against these budgets is a narrower margin than the franchise is used to.
We will update this post as Disney confirms production milestones.
Avatar 4 FAQ
When does Avatar 4 come out?
December 21, 2029, with Avatar 5 dated December 19, 2031.
Is Avatar 4 confirmed?
It has a release date and Disney executives have said it is happening. Some footage has been shot, but full production details have not been confirmed.
Did Avatar: Fire and Ash flop?
No. It earned roughly $1.486 billion worldwide and won an Oscar for Visual Effects. It is only disappointing relative to the first two films, which made $2.9 billion and $2.3 billion.
What is the Avatar time jump?
A planned jump forward in the timeline that ages up the Sully children. Some Avatar 4 footage was filmed before it, while the young cast were the right age.
Where can I watch Avatar: Fire and Ash?
It has been streaming on Disney+ since June 24, 2026.
For the full breakdown of the third film, see our Avatar: Fire and Ash guide.
Also worth reading: our guide to Mandalorian and Grogu.
