LOS ANGELES - "Avatar: Fire and Ash" has surpassed the $1-billion mark at the global box office, as it kept the top spot in North American theatres with another $40-million in ticket sales, industry estimates showed.
The third instalment in director James Cameron's blockbuster series has now earned $306-million in the United States and Canada, and another $777-million abroad, putting the total at $1.08-billion, Exhibitor Relations reported.
"Fire and Ash" stars Zoe Saldana as Na'vi warrior Neytiri and Sam Worthington as ex-Marine Jake Sully, who must battle a new foe threatening their family's life on the planet Pandora.
It is the fourth Cameron film to pass the $1-billion mark, with the first two "Avatar" films and "Titanic."
In second place in North America was "Zootopia 2," Disney's feel-good animated film and an Oscar contender, at $19-million. Its global total now stands at nearly $1.6-billion.
Coming in third at $14.9-million was Lionsgate's "The Housemaid," a film version of Freida McFadden's best-selling novel about a young woman (Sydney Sweeney) who is hired by a wealthy couple (Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar) with dark secrets.
"Marty Supreme," A24's period sports drama starring Timothee Chalamet, finished in fourth place with $12.6-million.
"Anaconda," the new meta-comedy action flick starring Paul Rudd and Jack Black as friends trying to reboot the original 1997 horror film, finished in fifth place with $10-million.