James Cameron Is Right About Avatar’s Success – So Why Is No One Copying Him?

James Cameron’s Avatar films have proven to be undeniable hits, but it seems Hollywood has yet to catch on to the secret of their success. In a recent interview, Cameron disclosed his thoughts on why his films have proven to be so popular. What’s surprising is that no one else seems to be copying him.

With a combined box office total of $5.2 billion (via Box Office Mojo), the Avatar movies are fast becoming Disney’s most important franchise. The first two installments currently hold the top and third place positions in a list of the highest-grossing movies of all time. Furthermore, with five more Avatar films currently in the works, the series certainly isn’t going anywhere any time soon. According to Cameron, one thing about the films sets them apart from other sci-fi movies, and it has something to do with how Avatar depicts the future.

Avatar’s Success Proves People Enjoy Positive Sci-Fi

In an interview with People, Cameron opined that the reason the Avatar films have been such a hit with audiences is because people are “innately empathetic.” He compared his work to other sci-fi films, saying that audiences “innately want beauty” and “connection to each other” and that “so many science fiction films are dystopian.” Cameron raises a good point. Few science fiction films released this century, or even at all, depict positive and sympathetic futures. In that regard, the Avatar films stand out. Here’s what Cameron had to say about his sci-fi franchise:

“Ours is actually dystopian in its message to some extent, but it’s about beauty, it’s about connection, it’s about positive values, and that seems to be working. So what does that tell us about us? And as human beings globally? Because the films are successful in all markets everywhere. And so I think that’s empowering for us.”

The universe portrayed in Avatar is one filled with beauty and optimism, as well as a certain amount of hope. It’s far from a perfect world, but it’s a world where bad things sometimes happen, as opposed to an outright bad world. The Na’vi planet of Pandora’s luscious green plants and clear blue waters brim with life, and contrast heavily with the grimy cityscapes that make up the backdrops of 90% of sci-fi movies. Furthermore, Avatar’s success proves that positivity, optimism, and beautiful scenery are all things audiences want from science fiction.

Why Dystopian Sci-Fi Is Still So Popular

Theoretically, the success of the Avatar films should’ve prompted a surge in sci-fi films that portray more positive futures. However, this hasn’t been the case. Most dystopian sci-fi films of the last decade, such as Blade Runner 2049, Ready Player One, and Alita: Battle Angel (ironically, produced by Cameron), have been set against the backdrop of a characterless futuristic city, while others, including 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road, have taken place in baron wastelands. All are a far cry from Pandora’s naturally beautiful vistas, and all portray a future that is bleak and without much hope.

It’s possible that moviegoers find themselves returning to dystopian sci-fi time and time again because they find something in it that they can relate to. As depressing as it is to admit, the real world is far closer to the ones seen in most dystopian movies than the one portrayed in the Avatar films. Avatar, therefore, is successful because it provides escapism from the real world. Meanwhile, other, more dystopian, sci-fi films are popular because they reflect it.