Blockbusters Are Making Less Money These Days, But I’m Still Shook About What James Cameron Is Saying Ahead Of Avatar 3, 4, and 5

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It’s hardly surprising to say that the movie theater business is facing some challenges at the moment. Fewer people are going to see films compared to the past. We’re seeing fewer mid-budget movies in cinemas, and even big-budget blockbusters aren’t performing as well as they once did. There are, of course, exceptions – like Avatar.

Avatar: The Way of Water showed that people were still excited about the Avatar series, becoming a huge success and one of the highest-earning films of all time. I thought for sure the new movie, Avatar: Fire and Ash, would also be very popular, and that the two remaining sequels would be made quickly. However, in an interview with Variety, James Cameron seemed much less certain. He suggested that if the new film doesn’t perform well financially, the production of the final two movies could be delayed, or they might not be made at all. He said…

I’ve got a few other projects I *might* direct, but honestly, the biggest thing on my mind is whether ‘Avatar 3’ will actually turn a profit. We’re almost certain to make *some* money, of course. But the real question is, how *much*? And will that profit be enough to justify continuing with more films in this universe? I’m starting to wonder if we should pause and figure out how to lower production costs. The truth is, costs – especially in VFX – have really spiraled out of control in recent years. Everything’s gotten so expensive, it’s threatening the kinds of films *I* want to make.

It’s undeniable that movie budgets have consistently risen, and the expense of large-scale blockbusters has increased even further. Generally, this means these films need to earn a significant amount of money in theaters to be successful, but the Avatar franchise hasn’t struggled with that at all.

To be honest, Avatar: The Way of Water was a very costly film to produce, with an estimated budget of around $500 million. However, some of that expense also covered filming for Avatar 3, which happened at the same time as the second movie. And because Avatar 2 earned over $2 billion, it easily covered all of its costs.

It’s hard to say for sure. Avatar 2 was released ten years after the original, and there might have been a lot of built-up excitement for the series that won’t be present for Avatar 3. If this happens, the final two sequels could be delayed indefinitely, potentially allowing Cameron to focus on different projects. He went on to say…

There’s a case to be made for taking a break and planning things out. Alternatively, we could work on a smaller, more personal film while those plans are being developed. If we’re incredibly successful, we could immediately start working on [‘Avatar 4’ and ‘Avatar 5’] and I could develop a production process that allows for a break to make another movie. Or, we could just make those two films and worry about everything else when I’m older.

Cameron wants to direct more films and is planning to write and direct an adaptation of the book Ghosts of Hiroshima. However, a key concern is finding the time, as he still has two major Avatar films to complete. He would have the availability if the Avatar franchise paused for a while. Naturally, if the project is delayed too long, Cameron might not be able to direct the final two Avatar movies.

It’s surprising to think that Avatar: Fire and Ash might not earn billions of dollars, and that Cameron won’t immediately start working on Avatar 4 and 5. However, the film industry is constantly evolving, and really, anything can happen.

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2025-10-04 16:08