Not even a newfound interest in Na'vi power kinks can save "Fire and Ash" from just feeling like more "Avatar."

Cameron hasn't lost his zesty storytelling brio, even if the story he tells is starting to feel like his version of the "Star Wars" prequels. As in: It's fine, but do we actually care about it? Cameron himself has a sixth sense for when to break up the windy chronicle of Pandora with a squid attack,

Cameron has ended the world twice over with The Terminator movies, depicted the true-life tragedy of the Titanic, and explored the terrors of marriage and motherhood with True Lies and Aliens. Yet by comparison, Fire and Ash finds him unafraid to dig around in the darkest corners of the human soul.

James Cameron's new film, starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, and Stephen Lang, is in theaters December 19.

If you’re confused as to why Avatar: Fire and Ash received a Golden Globes 2026 nomination before its official theatrical release, you’re not alone. The James Cameron-directed film scored a nod for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement when the nominations were announced in December 2025.

Avatar: Fire and Ash will undoubtedly open strongly at the box office, but how will it compare to previous Avatar movies? Here's what early tracking suggests.