Using New Zealand production-cost records and an assumed 50-50 split of box-office receipts, an estimate puts the 2009 ‘Avatar’ film’s profit at $1.25 billion, just above the $1.22 billion combined estimate for ‘The Way of Water’ and ‘Fire and Ash’.
New Zealand records list $242.59 million in qualifying costs for the first film and a $35.26 million rebate, leaving $207.33 million in recorded net spending. The $1.25 billion estimate subtracts that amount from an estimated $1.46 billion studio share of its $2.92 billion box office. It is not a full profit accounting: Los Angeles motion-capture costs and marketing are excluded.
The sequel estimate uses $3.82 billion in combined box-office gross and $691.79 million in net spending after rebates. That spending total also includes some work on the fourth film; The Wrap reported in April that about 22% of it had been shot. Merchandise, licensing and DVD/Blu-ray sales are not included in the box-office comparison.
