Avatar: Fire and Ash anchors a blockbuster December weekend at Regal, boosting attendance, food & beverage and merchandise sales with family releases and sequels driving strong performance.
James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash helped power Regal’s biggest market share weekend of 2025, as audiences flocked to theaters nationwide this holiday season. Regal reported strong attendance for both the new release and a lineup of family films and franchise favorites that contributed to elevated participation and higher in-theater spending.
Avatar: Fire and Ash – Blockbuster Weekend Performance at Regal
Regal Cinemas experienced one of its most successful December weekends, led at the box office by Avatar: Fire and Ash, which dominated ticket sales across premium formats including IMAX®, 4DX, RPX, and ScreenX. Seven of the top ten performing locations for the film were Regal theaters, with Regal Irvine Spectrum ranking number one nationwide. This strong showing propelled Regal to its largest market share weekend of the year and its third best since the post-pandemic period began.
New Releases and Family Films Fuel Attendance
Regal’s success wasn’t limited to Avatar: Fire and Ash. Additionally, several recently released films drove attendance throughout the weekend:
- David – welcomed audiences of all ages
- The Housemaid – a compelling thriller attraction
- The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants – bringing family crowds into theaters
These titles helped maintain packed showtimes from matinees to evening screenings. Continuing hits like Dhurandhar, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, Wicked: For Good and Zootopia 2 also drew significant crowds, demonstrating the appeal of a diverse movie slate during the holidays.
Elevated Concessions and Merchandise Sales
Beyond ticket sales, Regal reported notable increases in food and beverage spend per patron. The holiday atmosphere, combined with themed concessions and premium offerings, drove greater in-theater purchases — especially among families and group audiences. Merchandise also saw a lift, boosted by exclusive tie-in products like the limited-edition Avatar Banshee Popcorn Bucket and Totem Cup. PR Newswire
Avatar: Fire and Ash Weekend: Regal Leadership Weighs In
Eduardo Acuna, CEO of Regal Cineworld, highlighted the strong weekend as a testament to the enduring power of cinema:
“There’s a growing sense of anticipation around movies right now that’s translating into sustained, meaningful attendance… When studios deliver event-level storytelling and theatres deliver on experience, audiences show up in a big way.”
Nationwide Theater Performance and Upgrades
Across major U.S. markets and regional hubs, Regal theaters ranked among the top nationwide performers. The chain also noted strong contributions from newly upgraded facilities, including the newly opened Regal Sherman Oaks Galleria and the first weekend of IMAX screenings at Regal LA Live.
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