Avatar (franchise)

Avatar
Created byJames Cameron
Original workAvatar (2009)
Owner20th Century Studios
Lightstorm Entertainment
Years2009 (2009)–present
Print publications
Graphic novel(s)Avatar: The High Ground (2022–2023)
Games
Video game(s)
  • Avatar: The Game (2009)
  • Avatar: Pandora Rising (2020)
  • Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (2023)
Audio
Soundtrack(s)
  • Avatar (2009)
  • Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
  • Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (2023)
  • Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025)
Original music
  • I See You
  • The Songcord
  • Nothing Is Lost
  • The Future and The Past
Dream as One
Miscellaneous
Toy(s)Lego Avatar
Theme park attraction(s)
  • Avatar Flight of Passage (2017)
  • Na'vi River Journey (2017)
Official website
avatar.com

Avatar is an American epic science fiction media franchise created by James Cameron. The first movie of the franchise, Avatar, was released in 2009. It is produced by Lightstorm Entertainment and distributed by 20th Century Studios.[1]

Plot

The series is set mainly in the mid-22nd century on Pandora, a lush habitable moon orbiting a gas giant in the Alpha Centauri star system. The main plot is about the struggle between the indigenous Na'vi, led by Jake Sully and Neytiri, and human forces led by Colonel Miles Quaritch of the Resources Development Administration (RDA), a megacorporation that wants to colonize Pandora and take its natural resources.

Movies

Cast and characters

Character
Films
Avatar Avatar:
The Way of Water		 Avatar:
Fire and Ash		 Avatar 4 Avatar 5
2009 2022 2025 2029 2031
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
Trudy Chacón Michelle Rodriguez
Eytukan Wes Studi Wes StudiC
Tsu'tey Laz Alonso Laz AlonsoC
Kiri Sigourney Weaver
Ronal Kate Winslet TBA
Tonowari Cliff Curtis
General Frances Ardmore Edie Falco TBA
Captain Mick Scoresby Brendan Cowell
Dr. Ian Garvin Jemaine Clement
Lo'ak Britain Dalton
Chloe ColemanY		 Britain Dalton
Miles "Spider" Socorro Jack Champion
Neteyam Jamie Flatters Jamie FlattersC
Tuktirey "Tuk" Trinity Jo-Li Bliss
Tsireya "Reya" Bailey Bass
Aonung Filip Geljo
Rotxo Duane Evans Jr. TBA
Metkayina Interpreter CJ Jones
Varang Oona Chaplin
Peylak David Thewlis
Dr. Karina Mogue Michelle Yeoh

Original songs

  • "I See You (Theme from Avatar)" for Avatar by Leona Lewis[2]
  • "Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength)" for Avatar: The Way of Water by the Weeknd[3]
  • "Dream as One" for Avatar: Fire and Ash by Miley Cyrus[4]

Box office

The first movie made $2.92 billion worldwide and is the highest-grossing movie in history. The second movie, The Way of Water, has made $2.34 billion worldwide and is the third highest-grossing movie. The fourth, and fifth movies in the series are expected to have a budget of $250 million.[5]

The franchise has made more than $5.2 billion worldwide, making it the 14th-highest-grossing movie series of all time.

Critic responses

Critical and public response to the Avatar films
Film Critical Public
Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore PostTrak
Avatar 81% (335 reviews)[6] 83 (38 reviews)[7] A[8] N/a
Avatar: The Way of Water 76% (454 reviews)[9] 67 (68 reviews)[10] A[8] 91%[8]
Avatar: Fire and Ash 69% (281 reviews)[11] 61 (56 reviews)[12] A 89%

Academy Award nominations

Academy Awards received by the Avatar franchise
Category 2010[13] 2023[14]
Avatar Avatar: The Way of Water
Best Picture Nominated Nominated
Best Director Nominated N/a
Best Cinematography Won N/a
Best Film Editing Nominated N/a
Best Original Score Nominated N/a
Best Production Design[a] Won Nominated
Best Sound[b] Editing Nominated Nominated
Mixing Nominated
Best Visual Effects Won Won

Impact

A phenomenon known as "post-Avatar depression syndrome" (PADS) or "Avatar blues" has been reported in some viewers of the movies. These viewers feel sadness since they want to be part of the fictional world of Pandora.[15][16][17] It is not a recognized medical condition.[18] Symptoms reportedly include depression, meaninglessness, and dissatisfaction.[19][20][21] One report mentioned that people thought about suicide so they can be reincarnated on Pandora.[18][15]

Notes

  1. ↑ Starting with the 85th Academy Awards (2012), the Best Art Direction category was renamed Best Production Design.
  2. ↑ Starting with the 93rd Academy Awards (2021), the Best Sound Mixing and Best Sound Editing categories were consolidated into a single Best Sound category.

References

  1. ↑ Keiles, Jamie Lauren (December 1, 2022). "'Avatar' and the Mystery of the Vanishing Blockbuster – It was the highest-grossing film in history, but for years it was remembered mainly for having been forgotten. Why?". The New York Times. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  2. ↑ Lewis, Leona (28 February 2010). "Under the Skin of Leona Lewis" (Interview: Television). Interviewed by Rick Edwards. London: 4 Music. Archived from the original on 21 August 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  3. ↑ Bloom, Madison (December 4, 2022). "The Weeknd Shares New Avatar: The Way of Water Teaser". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  4. ↑ Horowitz, Steven J. (2025-10-22). "Miley Cyrus to Contribute Original Song 'Dream as One' to 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' Soundtrack". Variety. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  5. ↑ Chris Cabin (September 30, 2017). "The 'Avatar' Sequels "Will Be the Most Expensive Movies of All Time," According to Fox". Collider. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Avatar (2009)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Avatar". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 18, 2022). "Avatar: The Way Of Water Opens To $134M; Why Pic's Box Office Fate Will Be Determined Through The Holidays – Sunday AM Update". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 18, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Avatar: The Way of Water Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Avatar: Fire and Ash Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Oscar winners 2010: full list". the Guardian. March 8, 2010. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  14. ↑ Lewis, Hilary (January 24, 2023). "Oscars: Full List of Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 24, 2023.
  15. 1 2 Cain, Sian; Harmon, Steph; Harmon, Sian Cain explains it to Steph (2022-12-15). "'Post-Avatar depression syndrome': why do fans feel blue after watching James Cameron's film?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  16. ↑ "Audiences experience 'Avatar' blues - CNN.com". CNN. 2010-01-14. Archived from the original on January 14, 2010. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  17. ↑ "'Avatar' depression syndrome?". theweek. 2010-01-12. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  18. 1 2 Thompson, Valerie (2023-01-12). "How Avatar Took Fans To The Edge Of Depression". Looper. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  19. ↑ "'Post-Avatar depression syndrome': Why does James Cameron's film leave people feeling depressed?". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  20. ↑ "Connaissez-vous le syndrome de dépression post-Avatar ?". RTBF (in French). Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  21. ↑ "Was verbirgt sich hinter dem Phänomen?". stern.de (in German). 2022-12-15. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
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