Throwback: Top Gun 3 dreams deflated as 'Avatar: The Way of Water' reigned supreme

Maverick Meets His Match: Avatar Sequel's Skyrocketing Success

Hindsight, they say, is 20/20, and as we look back, it's evident that James Cameron's "Avatar: The Way of Water" was the tsunami that no one saw coming, especially not the "Top Gun: Maverick" team. As reported by Forbes, despite its early success and the buzz around Tom Cruise's nostalgic return, Maverick had to eventually descend from its high-flying box office position.

"Never Underestimate James Cameron"

Earlier projections had some naysayers doubting if Cameron's sequel could even touch the $1.5 billion mark. And yet, "never underestimate James Cameron" seems to be the anthem of the day, with projections now placing the film's earning potential at a whopping $2 billion. The buzz around the original "Avatar" movie, a groundbreaking hit of 2009, had many wondering if this follow-up could recreate the same magic. Well, the box office figures speak loud and clear: audiences are absolutely here for another journey to Pandora.

Maverick's Fall: A Resounding Echo of Underestimation?

"Top Gun: Maverick" certainly had its moment in the sun, stunning everyone with its staggering $1.488 billion global earnings. There was chatter of a potential "Top Gun 3", with the success of Maverick, but those hopes seem to be momentarily dampened. After all, "Avatar: The Way of Water" didn't just bring in monumental box office numbers, but it also came with Disney’s mega-merch-machine. This merchandising power, combined with its undeniable popularity, is set to drown any "who even cares about Avatar" critiques.

With all said and done, though, both movies showcased the power of blockbusters and the magic of cinema. As "Avatar: The Way of Water" gears up for a probable awards season sweep, all eyes will be on Cameron’s next moves, especially with the talk of another Avatar sequel in the works. And as for Maverick? Well, Tom Cruise's iconic flyboy may have been overshadowed this time, but he’s bound to take flight again in the future.

As the curtains draw on this box office showdown, one thing remains clear - in the world of cinema, it’s not just about the takeoff but the ability to soar.

Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.