Avatar (franchise)
Avatar is an American epic science fiction media franchise created by James Cameron, which began with the eponymous 2009 film. Produced by Lightstorm Entertainment and distributed by 20th Century Studios, and consists of associated merchandise, video games, and theme park attractions.[1] Avatar is set in the mid-22nd century on Pandora, a lush habitable moon of a gas giant in the Alpha Centauri star system. The film's 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 which has arrived on Pandora to colonize and pillage it for its natural resources. The title of the series refers to the genetically engineered Na'vi body operated from the brain that humans pilot to interact with on Pandora.
This article is about the science fiction film franchise. For the animated television franchise, see Avatar: The Last Airbender (franchise). For other uses, see Avatar (disambiguation).Avatar
Avatar (2009)
2009–present
Avatar: The High Ground (2022–2023)
- Avatar (2009)
- Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
- Avatar 3 (2025)
- Avatar 4 (2029)
- Avatar 5 (2031)
- Avatar: The Game (2009)
- Avatar: Pandora Rising (2020)
- Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (2023)
- Avatar (2009)
- Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
- Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (2023)
- Avatar Flight of Passage (2017–present)
- Na'vi River Journey (2017–present)
The first installment, Avatar, was released on December 18, 2009, and is the highest grossing film of all-time. The second installment, The Way of Water, was released on December 16, 2022. 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 had confirmed the series on January 15, 2010. 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 over $5.2 billion worldwide; it is the 14th-highest-grossing film series of all time.
Like the original film, the four sequels have "fully encapsulated" stand-alone plots that "come to their own conclusions". The four films have an overarching meta-narrative that connects them to create a large interconnected saga.[2] Cameron described the sequels as "a natural extension of all the themes, and the characters, and the spiritual undercurrents" of the first film.
Reception[edit]
Box office performance[edit]
The first film grossed $2.92 billion worldwide and is the highest-grossing film in history. The second film, The Way of Water, has grossed $2.32 billion worldwide and currently ranks as the third highest-grossing film. The third, fourth, and fifth films in the series are expected to have a budget of $250 million.[17]
Cultural considerations[edit]
Some indigenous groups, including Native Americans, have called for a boycott of the franchise over "tone-deaf" handling of indigenous cultures and cultural appropriation. Both Avatar films have drawn criticism for casting several white and other non-indigenous actors in the roles of the alien native people. Cameron said he tried to move away from a white savior narrative.[66][67][68] The film series was criticized for "romanticization of colonization" and putting forward a monolithic portrayal of Indigenous people.[69]
Cameron faced criticism for comments made after the release of the first film.[66][67][68] In 2010, Cameron and Avatar actors supported the Xingu peoples in opposing the construction of the Belo Monte Dam.[70]
In 2012, Cameron said Avatar is a fictional retelling of the history of North and South America in the early Colonial period, "with all its conflict and bloodshed between the military aggressors from Europe and the indigenous peoples".[71][72]