NEW YORK, Jan 4, 2026, 21:15 ET — Market closed
- Disney said its latest “Avatar” film crossed $1 billion in global ticket sales.
- Disney shares last fell 1.7% on Friday, the first U.S. session of 2026.
- Investors are watching next week’s U.S. jobs and inflation data, then Disney’s dividend and earnings window.
Walt Disney shares will be in focus when U.S. trading resumes on Monday after the company said “Avatar: Fire and Ash” has topped $1 billion in global ticket sales. The third film in James Cameron’s “Avatar” series has generated $1.03 billion worldwide, and Comscore’s Paul Dergarabedian said, “These movies consistently draw audiences to the movie theater.” 1
Disney stock ended the last session down 1.7% at $111.85, after trading between $111.64 and $113.98. The box-office update lands at a moment when investors want clearer evidence that Disney’s content pipeline can keep delivering, even as attention stays fixed on streaming and theme-park demand.
Macro has also tightened its grip on media shares. Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson said on Saturday that additional U.S. rate cuts could take time as officials gauge inflation and the labor market after last year’s easing, keeping borrowing costs and consumer spending in the frame. 2
For Disney, theatrical performance can shape sentiment well beyond a single weekend. A hit film supports studio revenue and can extend into licensing and later viewing on streaming platforms, while investors still weigh longer-running issues such as sports programming costs and ad-market momentum.
The next market catalyst arrives before the bell: the U.S. employment report for December is due on Jan. 9 at 8:30 a.m. ET, followed by December consumer price data on Jan. 13 at 8:30 a.m. ET. The Federal Reserve’s next two-day policy meeting is scheduled for Jan. 27-28, another key checkpoint for rate expectations. 3
Disney also has an income-focused date on the near-term calendar. The company said it will pay a $0.75-per-share dividend on Jan. 15, the first of two installments tied to a $1.50-per-share cash dividend declared in November, for shareholders of record as of Dec. 15. 4
Traders are also looking toward the next quarterly update. Market calendars on Yahoo Finance peg Disney’s next earnings release for Feb. 4, before the open, though the company has not confirmed the date. 5
Competitive pressure is not going away. Disney’s studio wins come as legacy media groups jostle for a steadier box-office backdrop and streaming platforms compete for attention, pricing power and advertising dollars.
But a box-office milestone does not automatically translate into earnings. Big-budget films carry heavy production and marketing costs, and a weaker consumer environment would likely show up first in discretionary spending at parks and on paid video services.
For Disney stock, Monday’s open will offer the first read-through on the “Avatar” update, before attention shifts to Jan. 9’s jobs report, the Jan. 15 dividend payment and the expected Feb. 4 earnings window.
