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‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ snares $12 million in Thursday previews

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‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ snares  million in Thursday previews


Still from Disney’s “Avatar: Fire and Ash.”

Disney

Disney and James Cameron’s third Avatar movie, “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” hit theaters Thursday, snapping up $12 million in early preview screenings domestically.

The second installment in the film series, “The Way of Water,” had a better start and tallied $5 million more in its Thursday preview haul in 2022. Still, box office analysts expect “Fire and Ash” will bring in at least $100 million during its opening weekend in the U.S. and Canada.

“A lot is riding on the performance of ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,’ and with less than two weeks remaining in the year, the film’s results will play a pivotal role in shaping the annual box office totals,” Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Comscore, told CNBC.

Fueling global ticket sales will be international markets, which collected $43.1 million in preview screenings.

“The circumstances surrounding each ‘Avatar’ film have been quite different,” said Shawn Robbins, director of analytics at Fandango and founder of Box Office Theory. “The first was a sleeper-turned-phenomenon during a pre-streaming box office heyday, the second a beneficiary of pent-up sequel demand and eventized-status in moviegoing’s post-Covid recovery and the third is now opening in a more competitive and new-normal market.”

The Avatar franchise is a unicorn in Hollywood. Despite garnering widespread acclaim and massive financial success at the box office, the franchise has never quite captured the cultural relevance that “Star Wars” or the Marvel Cinematic Universe — both also owned by Disney — have enjoyed. Toy sales fizzled and cosplayers donning heavy blue makeup at pop culture fan conventions have become few and far between.

Yet, both 2009’s “Avatar” and 2022’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” have topped $2 billion at the global box office, with the first film teetering close to $3 billion in total ticket receipts.

“The constant is the James Cameron factor,” Robbins said. “Audiences expect grand visuals, sound and storytelling when they buy tickets to his movies. They consistently meet or exceed expectations with long runways at the box office and exclusive theatrical windows because they deliver an experience that cannot be duplicated at home.”

Driving these strong hauls is the sale of premium large format tickets for screens like IMAX and Dolby, as well as 3D showings, which tend to be more expensive than regular tickets. 

While 3D films have fallen out of favor with domestic audiences, they remain popular internationally —especially in China. Indeed, “Avatar” made the bulk of its money outside of the U.S., with a whopping $2.08 billion coming from overseas.

Dergarabedian said the franchise has consistently benefited from moviegoers’ enthusiasm for seeing the films in 3D.

“The original ‘Avatar,’ released in 2009, was a groundbreaking film that reignited widespread interest in 3D cinema, setting the stage for subsequent entries to capitalize on this trend,” he said.

The international preview sales shared by Disney on Friday did not include China. The company noted that early estimates indicate an opening day of around $17.1 million, which would mark the third-highest opening day for a Motion Picture Association film since “The Way of Water.”

“While ‘Fire and Ash’ is looking at a diminished box office opening relative to ‘The Way of Water,’ it’s all about the long game,” Robbins said. “Premium screens are locked up into the new year, Cameron’s films are not front-loaded like most Hollywood franchises, and international performance will again far outweigh domestic.”



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Stats overhaul: New inflation and GDP base year series slated for February; IIP to follow in May – The Times of India

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Stats overhaul: New inflation and GDP base year series slated for February; IIP to follow in May – The Times of India


India’s key macroeconomic indicators are set for a base-year reset early next year, with the government announcing timelines for releasing new series of retail inflation, national accounts and industrial production data, PTI reported.The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) said on Monday that a new series of Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, reflecting a revised base year, will be released in February 2026, alongside updated national accounts data, while the revised Index of Industrial Production (IIP) series will be rolled out in May.According to an official statement, a new CPI series with base year 2024=100 is scheduled for release on February 12, 2026. The revised National Accounts data, with 2022-23 as the base year, will follow on February 27, 2026. The new IIP series, also using 2022-23 as the base year, is slated for release on May 28.Ahead of the data rollout, the ministry has convened a pre-release consultative workshop on the base revision of GDP, CPI and IIP on Tuesday. This follows an earlier workshop held in Mumbai on November 26.The primary objective of the consultation is to share proposed methodological and structural changes in the revised data series and seek feedback from stakeholders, the statement said.The workshop will bring together economists, subject matter experts, representatives from financial institutions and the banking sector, users of official statistics, and senior officials from central and state governments. The ministry said participation from a wide range of stakeholders is expected to enrich discussions and help users better understand the changes in the revised series.The event will be attended by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman K Bery as chief guest, along with Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran, MoSPI Secretary Saurabh Garg and Director General (Central Statistics) N K Santoshi.



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Dense Fog Disturbs You Too? Check Must Follow Tips For Safe Driving To Avoid Accidents

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Dense Fog Disturbs You Too? Check Must Follow Tips For Safe Driving To Avoid Accidents


Dense fog during winter mornings and late nights often disrupts road travel, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of accidents. With several regions witnessing thick fog conditions, traffic police and road safety experts are urging drivers to take extra precautions to ensure safe journeys.

Fog significantly reduces visibility, sometimes to just a few metres. This makes it difficult to judge the distance of vehicles, road signs, pedestrians, and turns. Accidents during fog usually occur due to overspeeding, sudden braking, or drivers following other vehicles too closely without proper visibility.

Recently, on December 20, 2025, two youths were killed and another sustained critical injuries after a speeding truck hit their motorcycle amid dense fog on the Bareilly–Pilibhit highway.

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Slow Down and Maintain Distance

Experts advise drivers to slow down while driving in foggy conditions, as it allows more time to react to sudden obstacles. Maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle ahead is equally important, as sudden braking can lead to rear-end collisions in low visibility.

Use Fog Lights Correctly

Using the right lights is crucial during fog. Drivers should switch on fog lights or low-beam headlights instead of high beams. High-beam lights reflect off fog particles and further reduce visibility. Fog lamps are designed to illuminate the road surface and edges, helping drivers see lane markings clearly.

Follow Road Markings and Signals

When visibility is poor, road markings become an important guide. Drivers should follow lane lines and reflective markers instead of relying solely on the vehicle ahead. Ignoring traffic signals or signs due to poor visibility can lead to serious accidents.

Sudden lane changes, sharp turns, or abrupt braking should be avoided in foggy conditions. Smooth steering and gradual braking help maintain control of the vehicle and reduce the chances of skidding or collisions.

(Also Read: How To Convert A Manual Car To Automatic? Check Total Cost And Details)

Stay Alert and Avoid Distractions

Drivers are advised to stay fully alert and avoid distractions such as mobile phones or loud music. Keeping windows slightly open can help drivers hear horns or approaching vehicles better.

When to Stop Driving?

If fog becomes extremely dense and visibility drops dangerously low, experts suggest parking vehicles at a safe spot away from traffic. Hazard lights should be used only when the vehicle is parked.

With foggy conditions likely to continue in many areas, following these simple driving tips can help reduce risks and ensure safer travel on the roads.



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Video: Uber Clears Violent Felons to Drive

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Video: Uber Clears Violent Felons to Drive


new video loaded: Uber Clears Violent Felons to Drive

Our reporter, Emily Steel, found that in many states, Uber’s guidelines allow people with serious criminal convictions to drive, as long as those convictions are more than seven years old. Some of those drivers have gone on to sexually assault or harass passengers.

By Emily Steel, Christina Shaman, Zach Caldwell, David Jouppi and Thomas Trudeau

December 22, 2025



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