Avatar fans are all geared up for yet another mind-blowing visual treat from director James Cameron. The sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, which is releasing in India on December 16, is witnessing massive advance bookings around the country.

As of Thursday morning, the film starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana and Sigourney Weaver has reportedly sold more than 5 lakh tickets for the first three days across multiplex chains in India. According to trade analysts, this includes around 2 lakh tickets for the opening day alone. The figures are likely to go up by Friday.

Cameron’s sci-fi adventure film has clocked better advance ticket sales compared to big-budget Hollywood releases like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. In India, Spider-Man had sold 5.05 lakh tickets in advance, while Doctor Strange had 4.05 lakh advance ticket sales.

“We are expecting one of the biggest openings of the year. Avatar 2 is on track to surpass the big Bollywood releases of the year like KGF: Chapter 2 in advance ticket sales. Several screens across cities have reported 80-85 per cent occupancy till Wednesday for the first day first show,” Rajender Singh Jyala, chief programming officer at INOX Leisure, told The Telegraph Online. INOX has added morning shows — as early as 6am — for Avatar: The Way of Water in some circles to cater to the huge demand for tickets in the opening weekend, Singh Jyala added.

Avatar released in the theatres in 2009. The events of Avatar: The Way of Water take place more than a decade after the first film. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) are parents now and face new challenges after they are uprooted from their home in Pandora and are forced to explore new terrains.