Avatar (film)
"Avatar" is a groundbreaking science fiction film released in 2009, directed by James Cameron, known for his previous blockbuster "Titanic." Set in the near future, the story revolves around Jake Sully, a disabled war veteran who is sent to the alien world of Pandora to help a corporation mine its valuable resources. To interact with the planet's indigenous population, the Na'vi, Jake uses a genetically engineered body called an avatar, leading him to develop a deep connection with Neytiri, a Na'vi princess. The film was acclaimed for its innovative use of motion-capture technology and stereoscopic 3-D effects, and it became one of the highest-grossing films of all time, earning over $2.7 billion worldwide.
"Avatar" received critical acclaim, winning three Academy Awards for Art Direction, Cinematography, and Visual Effects, and was nominated for several others, including Best Picture. Following its success, Cameron announced plans for sequels, with "Avatar: The Way of Water" released in 2022, which also performed exceptionally well at the box office, grossing over $1 billion shortly after its release. The franchise's combined earnings exceeded $5.2 billion, and plans for additional sequels are in place, although their release dates have been pushed back to accommodate other projects. The film also inspired the creation of Pandora—The World of Avatar, a themed area at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Avatar (film)
Identification: Science fiction film about a paraplegic Marine sent to the planet Pandora, where he becomes engaged in a war between the Indigenous population and humans
Director: James Cameron (b. 1954)
Date: Released on December 18, 2009
Avatar was one of the most anticipated movies of 2009 and quickly became one of the biggest hits of the year. Its use of advanced motion-capture technology and stereoscopic 3-D was regarded as a groundbreaking innovation in the motion-picture industry. The release of Avatar: The Way of Water in 2022 further continued the franchise's success.
Avatar was written and directed by James Cameron, best known for the epic Titanic (1997). Cameron was to begin production on Avatar immediately following Titanic's release, but he waited several years because he did not think the available technology was advanced enough to support his artistic vision. He resumed work on Avatar in 2005, and production was completed four years later.
The movie, set in the near future, tells the story of Jake Sully (played by Sam Worthington), a disabled war veteran. Jake journeys to the world of Pandora on a mission for a dubious corporation that is mining the planet for its valuable minerals. Jake is tasked with infiltrating the Na’vi, the planet’s inhabitants. In order to explore the planet and communicate with the Na'vi, Jake must transfer his consciousness into the genetically-grown body of a Na’vi, known as an avatar. Jake’s interactions with the Na’vi introduce him to Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), a Na’vi princess, with whom he falls in love. When the humans threaten the Na’vi’s existence, Jake becomes torn between his human self and his avatar.
Avatar was one of the most expensive productions in history, with an estimated budget of more than $300 million. It was an instant commercial hit, grossing more than $200 million worldwide during its opening weekend. The film soon became one of the highest-grossing films of all time. After forty-seven days, Avatar became the first film in history to earn over $2 billion, eventually grossing $2.7 billion.
Impact
Overall, critics hailed Avatar as a breakthrough in the art of filmmaking. In addition to being a commercial and critical success, Avatar was nominated for four Golden Globes and nine Academy Awards, including the awards for Best Picture and Directing. The film won three Academy Awards: for Art Direction, Cinematography, and Visual Effects. After its release, Cameron announced his plans to make more films focusing on Jake and Neytiri. The director said the sequels would take less time to make than the original because he had already mastered the technology involved; however, production on the films did not begin until 2017. After acquiring the rights to the films after merging with Fox, the Walt Disney Company announced that the Avatar sequel would be released in 2021, followed by a third film in 2023, a fourth in 2025, and a fifth in 2027. In addition, Disney opened Pandora—The World of Avatar, a themed area in Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World.
Following several delays, Avatar's sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, was released in 2022. Met with positive reviews, Avatar: The Way of Water was an overwhelming success at the box office and grossed more than $1 billion just two weeks after its release. Collectively, Avatar and its sequel earned over $5.2 billion at the box office. Despite that success, however, Disney announced in 2023 that it planned to further push back the release of subsequent sequels due to priorities with the company's Star Wars and Marvel franchises. It planned to release the third Avatar film in late 2025, the fourth in 2029, and the fifth in 2031. Cameron noted he likely would not direct the fourth and fifth sequels.
Bibliography
Abad-Santos, Alex. "Avenger: Endgame's Astonishing Box Office Soars Past $2 Billion." Vox, 6 May 2019, www.vox.com/culture/2019/5/6/18531158/avengers-endgame-box-office-2-billion. Accessed 3 Jun. 2019.
Child, Ben. “You Review: Avatar.” Guardian [UK]. Guardian News and Media, 18 Dec. 2009. Web. 15 Aug. 2012.
"Disney Pushes Back Avatar Sequels, with Fifth Film Now Due in 2031." The Guardian, 13 June 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jun/14/disney-pushes-back-avatar-sequels-with-fifth-film-now-due-in-2031. Accessed 2 Aug. 2023.
Ditzian, Eric. “James Cameron Talks ‘Avatar’ Sequel Plans.” MTV. Viacom Intl., 21 Dec. 2009. Web. 15 Aug. 2012.
Duncan, Jody and Lisa Fitzpatrick. The Making of Avatar. New York: Abrams, 2010. Print.
Harris, Hunter. "An Exhaustive Timeline of All the Avatar Sequel Announcements." Vulture, 7 May 2019, www.vulture.com/2019/05/avatar-sequel-announcements-timeline-james-cameron.html. Accessed 3 Jun. 2019.
Malhotra, Rahul. "'Avatar: The Way of Water' Hits $1 Billion at Global Box Office." Collider, 28 Dec. 2022, collider.com/avatar-2-the-way-of-water-global-box-office-1-billion/. Accessed 3 Jan. 2023.