Avatar is an American epic science fiction media franchise created by James Cameron, which began with the 2009 film Avatar. Produced by Lightstorm Entertainment and distributed by 20th Century Studios, it consists of associated merchandise, video games, and theme park attractions.
Premise The films of the Avatar franchise are set in the mid-22nd century on Pandora, a lush habitable moon of a gas giant in the Alpha Centauri star system. Their central conflict is between the indigenous Na'vi led by Jake Sully and Neytiri, and humans led by Colonel Miles Quaritch from the Resources Development Administration (RDA), a megacorp that has arrived on Pandora to colonize and pillage it for its natural resources. The title of the series refers to a genetically engineered Na'vi body remotely operated by humans via brain–computer interface to interact with the Na'vi on Pandora.
The first installment, Avatar, was released on December 18, 2009, and is the highest grossing motion picture without inflation adjustments. The planned sequel series was announced by 20th Century Fox on December 11, 2009, one week before Avatar was released to theaters. 20th Century Fox confirmed the series on January 15, 2010.
The second installment, The Way of Water, was released on December 16, 2022.
The third installment, Fire and Ash, was released on December 19, 2025.
Like the original film, the two released sequels and two planned sequels (Way of Water, Fire and Ash, 4, and 5) have "fully encapsulated" stand-alone plots that "come to their own conclusions". The four films have an overarching meta-narrative story arc that connects them to create a large interconnected saga. Cameron described the sequels as "a natural extension of all the themes, and the characters, and the spiritual undercurrents" of the first film.
The Avatar franchise is one of the most expensive franchises undertaken, with the combined budget of the first film and its four sequels estimated at $1 billion. The franchise has grossed more than $6.7 billion worldwide. The first two films received largely positive critical reviews, while the third film received mixed-to-positive reviews.
Films Film U.S. release date Director Screenplay by Story by Produced by Status Avatar James Cameron James Cameron James Cameron & Jon Landau Released Avatar: The Way of Water James Cameron, Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver James Cameron, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Josh Friedman & Shane Salerno Avatar: Fire and Ash Avatar 4 James Cameron & Josh Friedman James Cameron & Rae Sanchini In development Avatar 5 James Cameron & Shane Salerno
Avatar (2009)
Avatar was written and directed by James Cameron. The cast includes Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez, Stephen Lang, Joel David Moore, Giovanni Ribisi, CCH Pounder, Dileep Rao, Matt Gerald, Laz Alonso, and Wes Studi, and is set in the year 2154.
The story focuses on an epic conflict on Pandora, an inhabited Earth-sized moon of Polyphemus, one of three gas giants orbiting Alpha Centauri A. On Pandora, human colonists and the sentient humanoid indigenous inhabitants of Pandora, the Na'vi, engage in a war over the planet's resources (such as unobtanium) and the latter's continued existence. The film's title refers to the remotely controlled, genetically engineered human-Na'vi bodies used by the film's human characters to interact with the locals. The protagonist, Jake Sully, is a paraplegic young man who travels to Pandora from Earth. Assisting the corporate monolith known as the Resources Development Administration (RDA), he is given an avatar which he uses to interact with the story's heroine, Neytiri, as well as her clan known as the Omatikaya.
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
Avatar: The Way of Water was written and directed by James Cameron, The cast includes Sam Worthington, Zoë Saldaña, Joel David Moore, Sigourney Weaver, CCH Pounder, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Trinity Bliss, Jamie Flatters, Britain Dalton, and Jack Champion, and is set 16 years after the first film in the year 2170.
The Way of Water focuses on the return of the RDA, which prompts Jake's family to seek refuge in the water regions of Pandora in an effort to keep one another safe. Cameron said in an interview that while the first film was about the "awe and wonder", the sequel focuses more on the characters. The film was originally planned for a December 2014 release, but was delayed several times and released on December 16, 2022. Production began in August 2017. It wrapped in September 2020.
Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025)
Avatar: Fire and Ash was written and directed by James Cameron, The cast includes Sam Worthington, Zoë Saldaña, Joel David Moore, Sigourney Weaver, CCH Pounder, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Trinity Bliss, Britain Dalton, Jack Champion, David Thewlis, and Oona Chaplin, and is set shortly after the second film.
Fire and Ash focuses on the continuing conflict between the Na'vi and the RDA with Jake's family struggling to prevent more casualties in the conflict with the RDA being aided by Mangkwan clan who live in the volcanic regions of Pandora. Interviews in mid-2010 suggested that the third film would explore more of the Alpha Centauri system, but the script was not completed until late 2015. Fire and Ash started shooting simultaneously with The Way of Water in New Zealand on September 25, 2017; filming was completed in late December 2020. The film introduced a new aggressive Na'vi clan known as 'Ash People' who reside near volcanoes. Cameron announced the film's title in 2024. Like its predecessor, the film was delayed several times, initially being scheduled for a December 2015 release. It was released on December 19, 2025.
Avatar 4 (2029) A fourth film is planned for release on December 21, 2029. Jon Landau said that, due to an eight-year time skip in the first act, a third of Avatar 4 has already been filmed to account for the aging of the child actors. However, he said that he would not continue filming the remainder of Avatar 4 until after the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash. In November 2025, Cameron said the next two sequels would not be produced if Fire and Ash was unsuccessful at the box office, but that he "will write a book" instead to resolve the "one open thread" the third installment leaves open. While Avatar: Fire and Ash made $1.5 billion at the global box office and was therefore highly profitable, this was a relative disappointment compared to the first two films. Exact plans of budgeting and scheduling Avatar 4 and 5 remain unfinished as of August 2026.'The Reality Is Avatar 3 Did OK but as a Cultural Force, It's Exhausted' — James Cameron Reportedly Discussing Ways to Make Avatar 4 and 5 Cheaper and Shorter
Avatar 5 (2031) A fifth film has been announced and is scheduled for December 19, 2031. It is currently planned to be the last film of the franchise. Jon Landau stated that part of Avatar 5 will take place on Earth, with Neytiri visiting the planet. Cameron stated that Avatar: The Quest for Eywa is being considered as a possible title for the film.
Future Cameron said he would consider making sixth and seventh films if there was demand for them. However, he said that due to his age he would have to train a successor to direct them.
Cast and characters
Character Films Avatar Avatar:The Way of Water Avatar:Fire and Ash Jake Sully Sam Worthington Neytiri Zoe Saldaña Miles Quaritch Stephen Lang Parker Selfridge Giovanni Ribisi Dr. Norm Spellman Joel David Moore Dr. Max Patel Dileep Rao Corporal Lyle Wainfleet Matt Gerald Mo'at CCH Pounder Dr. Grace Augustine Sigourney Weaver Sigourney Weaver Trudy Chacón Michelle Rodriguez colspan="2" Eytukan Wes Studi Wes Studi Tsu'tey Laz Alonso Laz Alonso Kiri Sigourney Weaver Ronal Kate Winslet Tonowari Cliff Curtis General Frances Ardmore Edie Falco Captain Mick Scoresby Brendan Cowell Dr. Ian Garvin Jemaine Clement Lo'ak Sully Britain Dalton Britain Dalton Miles "Spider" Socorro Jack Champion Neteyam Sully Jamie Flatters Jamie Flatters Tuktirey "Tuk" Sully Trinity Jo-Li Bliss Tsireya "Reya" Bailey Bass Aonung Filip Geljo Rotxo Duane Evans Jr. Varang colspan="2" Oona Chaplin Peylak colspan="2" David Thewlis
Production details +Production details of Avatar films Film Composer Cinematographer Editors Production companiesVisual Effects Distributor Running time Avatar James Horner Mauro Fiore Stephen RivkinJohn RefouaJames Cameron 20th Century FoxLightstorm EntertainmentDune EntertainmentIngenious Film Partners Wētā FX, Industrial Light and Magic 20th Century Fox 162 min. Avatar: The Way of Water Score by:Simon FranglenThemes by:James Horner Russell Carpenter Stephen RivkinDavid BrennerJohn RefouaJames Cameron 20th Century StudiosLightstorm Entertainment 20th Century Studios 192 min. Avatar: Fire and Ash Stephen RivkinNicolas de TothJohn RefouaJason GaudioJames Cameron 197 min.
Reception Box office performance The first film grossed $2.92 billion worldwide and was the highest-grossing film in history. The second film, The Way of Water, has grossed $2.34 billion worldwide and currently ranks as the fourth highest-grossing film in history. In 2017, the fourth and fifth films in the series were expected to have a budget of $250 million each.
+ Film Release date Box office gross Box office ranking Budget North America Other territories Worldwide North America Worldwide Avatar December 18, 2009 $785,221,649 $2,138,489,059 $2,923,710,708 5 2 $237 million Avatar: The Way of Water December 16, 2022 $688,459,501 $1,646,025,119 $2,334,484,620 8 4 $350 million Avatar: Fire and Ash December 19, 2025 $404,340,010 $1,086,046,702 $1,490,386,712 57 18 $400 million Total $ $ $ 14 12 $ million
Critical and public response + Film Critical Public Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore PostTrak Avatar 81% (335 reviews) 83 (38 reviews) A Avatar: The Way of Water 76% (455 reviews) 67 (68 reviews) A 91% Avatar: Fire and Ash 66% (355 reviews) 61 (59 reviews) A
Accolades
+ Academy Awards received by the Avatar franchise Category 2010 20232026 Avatar The Way of WaterFire and Ash Best Picture colspan="2" Best Director Best Cinematography Best Costume Design Best Film Editing Best Original Score Best Production Design Best Sound Editing rowspan="2" rowspan="2" Mixing Best Visual Effects colspan="3"
Music Avatar (Music from the Motion Picture) was scored by James Horner and released on December 15, 2009, by Atlantic Records and Fox Music. Avatar: The Way of Water (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) was scored by Simon Franglen and released on December 15, 2022, by Hollywood Records. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (Original Game Soundtrack) was scored by Pinar Toprak and released on December 8, 2023, by Lakeshore Records. Avatar: Fire and Ash (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) was scored by Simon Franglen and released on December 5, 2025, by Hollywood Records.
Singles "I See You (Theme from Avatar)" "Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength)" "Dream as One"
Other media Video games
Novels Following the release of Avatar, Cameron initially planned to write a novel based on the film: "...telling the story of the movie, but [going] into much more depth about all the stories that we didn't have time to deal with."
In 2013, this plan was superseded by the announcement of four new novels set within the "Avatar expanded universe", to be written by Steven Gould. The books were due to be published by Penguin Random House, but there has been no update on the planned book series since 2017.
In July 2022, the first graphic novel based on the Avatar franchise was announced.
TitleRelease dateAge categoryMedia type Avatar: The High Ground December 6, 2022 – January 10, 2023 12+ Graphic Novel Based on James Cameron's original screenplay for Avatar: The Way of Water and serves as a prequel to the film. Written by Sherri L. Smith and Augustin Padilla