Filmmaker James Cameron is preparing for the theatrical release of Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third film in his blockbuster sci-fi franchise.
Cameron has a long history of delivering record-breaking films.
Avatar (2009) remains the highest-grossing movie of all time worldwide, while Avatar: The Way of Water is currently the third-highest-grossing film globally, behind only Avengers: Endgame, according to Box Office Mojo.
With such a strong legacy, expectations are extremely high for the next chapter, which is scheduled to release on December 19, 2025.
While it is yet to be seen whether Fire and Ash can match or surpass the massive earnings of its predecessors, the buzz around the film is already intense.
Along with box-office expectations, attention has also turned to how much James Cameron himself could earn from the project.
According to a recent report by Forbes, James Cameron is expected to make more than $200 million from Avatar: Fire and Ash, before taxes and fees, if the film performs as expected at the global box office.
Cameron has earned enormous sums from his previous films as well.
Reports cited by Deadline indicate that he earned around $350 million from Avatar (2009), making it his biggest payday to date. He reportedly earned just over $95 million from Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) and around $97 million from Titanic (1999).
These figures underline how strongly Cameron benefits from the success of his films, especially the Avatar franchise.
Avatar: Fire and Ash continues the story of Jake Sully, played by Sam Worthington, and Na’vi warrior Neytiri, portrayed by Zoe Saldana, along with their family.
The film explores their journey as they deal with grief following the death of Neteyam. Their path leads them to a hostile new Na’vi clan known as the Ash People, led by the fierce tribal leader Varang.
With its massive scale, emotional storyline, and Cameron’s proven track record, Avatar: Fire and Ash is expected to be one of the biggest cinematic events of 2025.