Definitely, James Cameron reigns supreme on the cinema planet by bringing together millions of spectators seduced by his magical style, his artistic and ecological biases. Defying the ugly rumors of Hollywood panicked by its extraordinary budgets, he won his bet to always do better. As one analyst quoted by Variety magazine noted, “James Cameron continues to chase himself in the box office charts. He clearly knows how to appeal to today’s cinema audience. »

The numbers speak for themselves: Avatar: The Way of the Water has just snatched Titanic the third place of the biggest hits of all time at the worldwide box office, with 2.2433 billion dollars in receipts against 2 .2428 billion. Thanks to its 3D revival in February, Titanic has amassed a few more million dollars, rising to 2.243 billion dollars (242,859 admissions as of February 14 in France), but bows to the tidal wave of Avatar: the way of the water which continues to reap entries and dollars.

Internationally, the blockbuster collected on January 22, 229.7 million dollars in China, 129.8 million in France and 117 million in Germany. The strike force of James Cameron and his producer Jon Landau is such that the duo can still exceed the length of the first Avatar (2.92 billion dollars) and, why not, beat the champion Avengers: Endgame (2 .7 billion) who still has a lead of 500 million dollars. .

At 68, James Cameron can boast of having made three of the four biggest hits in the history of cinema. This allows him to calmly consider the post-production of Avatar 3 which will be released in theaters on December 18, 2024.

1/ Human, very human

One could say that between Titanic and Avatar, it is always a question of this marine universe which is the central point of inspiration for James Cameron, his favorite setting, where he can exercise his imagination combined with technological challenges. With him there is always something going on on the water, around the water and in the water. Between Titanic, which plays on the ropes of romantic drama, and Avatar, about the defense of nature and oppressed peoples, there is a common point: the human with the adventures of the Sully family, told from the point of view of parents and children. James Cameron also takes the opportunity to develop other themes that are close to his heart: the preservation of the oceans, the possibility of an island, Pandora, where everyone could live in harmony with the environment.

2/ No limits

A man of all records, Jim as he is nicknamed has no hubris but solid convictions, in particular that the cinema in theaters will survive thanks to the big show. All means are good to achieve this. What could pass for demagogy is his feeling that scientific and technical progress has no limits and is a great playground for immersive cinema, in 3D and 4D. Who else but him can now take his time and invest colossal sums to film Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winslet and the children Navi’s in performance capture – a system which allows the movements and expressions of the actors to be reproduced on a computer in order to achieve synthesized images. ? Who else but him to conceive of Pandora as a real character with extraordinary flora and fauna, an ocean with giant creatures that can communicate with each other? He always dreams bigger, more beautiful and is not afraid to make 3:15 films.

3/ A universal message

Beyond the formal beauty of Avatar: The Way of the Water, there is James Cameron’s desire to warn of the dangers threatening the planet, of the need to preserve its natural resources plundered by human predators. and on the migration of people affected by wars. The symbolism is powerful and widely shared today by billions of human beings sensitive to this universal message – political, some would say. James Cameron accepts his biases, preaches, like the philosophers of the Enlightenment, harmony with nature by using the cinema not as a megaphone, but as the most effective, the most popular means of awakening consciences and letting everyone his view of things.