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Hello, Curse and Coffee friends,
Today, we explore Avatar’s billions.
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The Big Sip
The take: James Cameron just became the first director in history with four consecutive billion-dollar films, and he's still not sure he'll get to make the next one.
What happened: Avatar: Fire and Ash crossed $1 billion globally on Sunday, 18 days after its December 19 release, with $306 million domestic and $777.1 million international.
Why it matters: Cameron now owns three of the four highest-grossing films ever made — and he's the only director with three $2 billion movies — yet Disney still hasn't greenlit Avatar 4.
What to watch: Cameron told Entertainment Weekly that if the sequels don't happen, "I'll hold a press conference and I'll tell you what we were gonna do."
The most successful filmmaker alive is threatening to spoil his own franchise if the studio won't let him finish it. Even James Cameron needs leverage.
Sponsor Break
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The math tells the story of modern Hollywood.
Cameron's four billion-dollar films have earned $8.58 billion combined. His lifetime box office is $9.8 billion across just 15 directing credits (an average of $653 million per film).
Spielberg, the only director ahead of him, needed 37 films to reach $10.7 billion.
Yet Cameron still has to "prove the business case" for each sequel.
The reason: budgets.
Fire and Ash reportedly cost north of $400 million.
At that scale, a $1 billion gross is break-even territory after marketing, distribution, and exhibitor splits. The film needs to hit $1.5-1.7 billion before Disney sees meaningful returns.
His fallback plan if the sequels don't happen?
Novels.
His reason is that it probably won't work.
"People aren't reading."
The most successful filmmaker alive, reduced to contemplating Kindle sales.
Cameron is the only director who has to audition with a billion-dollar opening weekend.
Two Sides, One Mug
→ Pro-Cameron: No director has ever delivered like this. Four consecutive billion-dollar films across nearly 30 years. The franchise has earned more than Star Wars, Jurassic World, and most superhero sagas combined.
→ Pro-caution: Each Avatar film costs more and earns slightly less than the last. Fire and Ash took 18 days to hit $1 billion; The Way of Water did it in 14. Theatrical attendance is down 20% from pre-pandemic levels.
→ Our read: Cameron will get his greenlight. The fact that he has to threaten spoilers to get there tells you everything about theatrical economics in 2026.
Receipt of the Day
Source: Entertainment Weekly, December 2025
"If we don't get to make 4 and 5, for whatever reason, I'll hold a press conference and I'll tell you what we were gonna do. How's that?"
Why it matters: It's part flex, part hostage negotiation. Cameron knows Disney needs him more than he needs Disney — but he also knows that $400 million budgets require board approval, not artistic merit. The press conference threat is his way of saying: I'll burn the mystique if you make me. Your move.
Spit Take
Four films. $8.58 billion. Still needs permission for the fifth.
(Deadline)
Your Coffee Break Links (and water cooler chatter)
📎 The record nobody else has: Cameron is the only director with three $2 billion films — and now the first with four consecutive billion-dollar releases. The Russos will likely match him with Avengers: Doomsday, but they have Marvel's infrastructure. Cameron built Pandora alone. (SlashFilm)
📎 Disney's 2025 dominance: The studio owns all three Hollywood billion-dollar releases this year. Zootopia 2, Lilo & Stitch, and now Avatar. No other major studio cracked the threshold. (GamesRadar)
📎 The backup director waiting in the wings: James Wan (The Conjuring, Aquaman) told Screen Rant he'd "love to take a crack" at Avatar 4 if Cameron steps away. Cameron has said he might "pass the baton" — but also that he's "healthy" and "good to go." Translation: he's not going anywhere. (Yahoo)
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