When James Cameron takes on a project, he consistently dominates Hollywood, rarely missing the mark (we won’t discuss Piranha II: The Spawning). Since the release of the first Avatar film, he has maintained a firm grip on Hollywood. The franchise has captivated audiences, becoming one of the largest film franchises ever, with the first and second films ranking as the highest and third highest-grossing films of all time.
While Cameron has a track record of success (again, let’s ignore Piranha II: The Spawning), few anticipated that Avatar, an entirely original concept with no prior intellectual property, would achieve such monumental success. It holds the record for the highest-grossing film at an astonishing $2,743,577,587, which is remarkable. With the third installment, Avatar: Fire and Ash, set to release on December 19th, 2025, and expected to generate significant revenue (as always), the future looks promising. However, how do audiences rank these films? The best source for this information is Letterboxd, a social media platform where users can connect with friends and rate films.
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‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ (2025)
Letterboxd Score: 3.6/5.0 (6.3k Fans)
Avatar: Fire and Ash may be receiving a lot of praise, but it is currently the lowest-rated film in the franchise on Letterboxd. This does not imply that the movie is poor—in fact, many viewers have shared positive feedback about it. While it has its flaws, it remains a well-crafted film that audiences are enjoying. A notable review from a Letterboxd user named Sipho states, "I think it’s safe to say that this franchise has always been rooted in spirituality, but this film enriches that foundation with humanity in ways I didn’t expect.”“ It has already surpassed $1 billion globally—currently at$1,087,572,943—in just about two weeks, similar to its predecessors. The third installment demonstrates that it can deliver grace, elegance, and thrilling moments that attract millions to theaters worldwide. Additionally, it introduces a new tribe that shifts the series’ direction as it progresses into the next two films slated for 2029 and 2031. Creating a cohesive series is challenging, yet James Cameron has succeeded remarkably well. Although Avatar: Fire and Ash is rated second-lowest among his films on Rotten Tomatoes at 66%, this rating is impressive by itself. It reflects the high standard of Cameron’s work and confirms that he will remain a significant figure in filmmaking for years to come. Despite some repetitive elements in the story, this does not detract from its overall excellence. Cameron continues to lead advancements in visual effects within cinema, making the upcoming two installments of Avatar highly anticipated. Regardless of narrative shortcomings at times, the technical expertise from the entire team solidifies the Avatar franchise as one of the industry’s finest—some even likening it to this generation’s own Star Wars franchise due to its impact on both cinema and pop culture.
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‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ (2022)
Letterboxd Score: 3.6/5.0 (21k Fans)
Image via 20th Century Studios
The sequel to Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, was released in 2022 after a long wait of 13 years. However, this wait was worthwhile due to the film’s exceptional quality. Cameron developed new technology to create more realistic water visual effects and pushed filmmaking boundaries further than ever before with this installment. Not only did the narrative keep viewers engaged throughout, but the visual effects astonished even industry experts. The innovative technology created for this film produced visual effects previously unseen in Hollywood. A Letterboxd user named Ryncle articulated this well in his review: “It’s the most visually stunning thing I’ve ever seen on screen. There were moments when I forgot this was all filmed in a studio.” Audiences can truly appreciate how far film technology has advanced since the first movie’s release—making water sequences feel genuinely authentic and real. Such visual effects had never been witnessed before in cinema since Cameron and his team literally invented new technologies to achieve them.” User Eric Elliott expressed his admiration for the VFX in his review by stating that he was repeatedly amazed by every frame due to the depth and life infused into Pandora’s world.
Avatar: The Way of Water builds upon what made its predecessor special while enhancing those elements even further at times. It expands upon Pandora’s world as an ideal sequel should, increasing audience investment and curiosity about future developments as Pandora continues to unfold. The new characters introduced feel essential to the story being told—a challenging task when adding new elements to such a beloved franchise where fans can be protective over established narratives. However, Avatar: The Way of Water understands its identity and strives to meet expectations effectively—mostly succeeding in doing so. The storyline feels stronger than that of its predecessor. Although it shares some repetitiveness with the third film, it takes a relatively fresh direction by introducing Sully’s children and their engaging dynamics within the narrative. Furthermore, introducing a new clan based on their aquatic environment continues to enrich Pandora’s world in an engaging manner.
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‘Avatar’ (2009)
Letterboxd Score: 3.7/5.0 (49k Fans)
The film that initiated everything logically stands as the highest-rated entry in the series. Moreover, achieving status as the highest-grossing film of all time—an astounding$2,743,577,587—is no small feat without remarkable technical execution and storytelling prowess. After years of demonstrating his capability as a filmmaker through hits like Titanic, Aliens, and both installments of The Terminator, Cameron dedicated himself to developing this project beginning in 2005 leading up to its release in 2009. Yet his journey with Avatar began even earlier—spanning nearly two decades before its debut—with pre-production commencing back in 1994 followingTerminator 2: Judgement Day‘s release in 1991.
Cameron realized that at that time technology was not sufficiently advanced for his vision of Avatarand shifted focus towards producing Titanicinstead.
The lengthy development period for Avataris indicative of Cameron’s dedication to ensuring each story within this universe is executed flawlessly. As Letterboxd user billyobrien814 aptly puts it,“One of cinema’s greatest achievements—change my mind.” Ultimately, Avatar’s major appeal lies within its breathtaking technological advancements that contribute significantly towards its reputation as a visual spectacle.
The narrative may be straightforward but is elevated through its immersive world-building alongside cutting-edge technology transforming an otherwise basic plot into something extraordinary—thanks largely due to compelling characters along with stunning visuals bringing everything alive.
The success of Avatar solidifies James Cameron’s position as an unparalleled filmmaker capable of creating grand epics worthy enough to hold titles among history’s highest-grossing films alongside sequels also achieving similar acclaim.
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