James Cameron Felt Relief After ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Beat ‘Avatar’ At The Box Office

Avengers Endgame Avatar James Cameron Marvel

James Cameron revealed why he was actually relieved when Avengers: Endgame dethroned Avatar at the box office.

After twelve years as the highest-grossing film of all-time, James Cameron’s Avatar was dethroned by Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame in July 2019. The news prompted James Cameron to send a congratulatory post to the filmmakers behind Avengers: Endgame, though few would have blamed the director if was disappointed to see Avatar lose the top spot at the global box office.

However, James Cameron told Deadline that he was actually relieved to hear Avengers: Endgame was capable of beating Avatar‘s box office record. While production on his Avatar sequels is already underway, James Cameron explained that he was concerned audiences might not show up to movie theaters considering how the market has changed since the first film was released:

“Avengers: Endgame is demonstrable proof that people will still go to movie theaters. The thing that scared me most about making Avatar 2 and Avatar 3 was that the market might have shifted so much that it simply was no longer possible to get people that excited about going and sitting in a dark room with a bunch of strangers to watch something.”

James Cameron elaborated by noting that the rise of streaming service could have resulted in the theater-going experience becoming a thing of the past, but the success of Avengers: Endgame proved audiences will still turn out for event films such as the Avatar sequels:

“Will Avatar 2 and 3 be able to create that kind of success in the zeitgeist? Who knows. We’re trying. Maybe we do, maybe we don’t, but the point is, it’s still possible. I’m happy to see it, as opposed to an alternate scenario where, with the rapid availability, custom-designed experience that everybody can create for themselves with streaming services and all the different platforms, that [theatrical potential] might not have existed anymore.”

James Cameron is set to release four Avatar sequels every other year on the pre-Christmas weekend starting in 2021. The Avatar sequels star Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, CCH Pounder, Cliff Curtis, Kate Winslet, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, and David Thewlis.

Here is the official synopsis for Avengers: Endgame:

The grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half the universe and fractured the Avengers ranks compels the remaining Avengers to take one final stand in Marvel Studios’ grand conclusion to twenty-two films, “Avengers: Endgame.”

Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, Avengers:Endgame stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo,  Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan, Danai Gurira, Benedict Wong, Jon Favreau, Bradley Cooper, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Josh Brolin.

Avengers: Endgame will be available on Digital HD starting July 30 followed by a 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD release on August 13.

Source: Deadline

Sebastian Peris

Sebastian Peris

Canadian film buff, political junkie, comic book geek, and board game enthusiast.