James Cameron says the 'Avatar' films are ‘Good enough’ for the Oscars

James Cameron isn’t second-guessing the cinematic worth of his Avatar franchise even as awards recognition remains uneven.

Appearing on The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, the 71-year-old filmmaker said he firmly believes the Avatar films deserve Oscar consideration, arguing that 2022’s The Way of Water may have been overlooked amid a broader industry backlash tied to artificial intelligence.

“We’ve never used generative AI,” Cameron said, stressing that no images in Avatar: Fire and Ash were created that way. 

“People may have just not thought the movie was good — but I happen to think it was f---ing good enough,” he added.

The original Avatar earned nine Oscar nominations in 2010 and won three awards, while The Way of Water secured four nominations, including Best Picture, but took home only one Oscar for visual effects. 

Cameron admitted the sequel’s limited awards traction was disappointing, calling it “the most beautiful film I’ve ever made.”

Still, Fire and Ash has found success elsewhere. The blockbuster crossed $1 billion globally, won Best Visual Effects at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, and earned Golden Globe nominations for box office achievement and original song.

Oscar nominations will be announced on January 22, when Cameron and Avatar fans will learn whether Fire and Ash make the Academy cut.