Fire and Ash’ in theaters, THR travels back across the director’s wildly influential career for a definitive ranking.

“I'm just in my happy place making an Avatar film,” the hit film’s writer-director, 71, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I just love the world-building. I just love figuring out this ecosystem, what the trees look like, what the creatures look like.”

"Avatar 3" director James Cameron unpacks "Fire and Ash" spoilers and why it's unlikely you'll see a fourth and fifth movie any time soon.

How To Pick Seats For Best IMAX Viewing Experience? James Cameron EXPLAINS. Authored by: Tanmayi Savadi;; Avatar: Fi

Fans can see the Matt Damon-less Avatar: Fire and Ash in theaters nationwide. Also, revisit the previous two Avatar films now with a Disney+ subscription. Those who love the Jason Bourne star can see him in his own big Hollywood blockbuster, The Odyssey, which heads to cinemas on July 17 amid the 2026 movie schedule.

Fire and Ash makes its cinematic debut, here's James Cameron's best directorial sci-fi movies to date – and the list is earth-shatteringly impressive.

Narratively, though, Fire and Ash exposes the franchise’s diminishing returns. Cameron still stages action with trademark clarity, but the déjà vu is harder to hide. The film is polished and often thrilling, yet it’s also the clearest indication that this saga may have finally reached its end.

James Cameron's favorite movie scene that he shot is from his box office-breaking Titanic, though it might not be the shot you would expect.

As the director of high-concept blockbusters like The Terminator (1984), Titanic (1997) and Avatar (2009), James Cameron has long been known for his bold approach to storytelling, and his offscreen life is nearly as dramatic as his films.

Quaritch, played again by Stephen Lang, isn't just your typical bad guy. He actually serves as an essential thread in the Avatar story, showcasing the darker sides of humanity and our unresolved issues. For Cameron, cutting these parts to make the film shorter would really diminish its emotional and philosophical impact.

2009’s “Avatar” was nominated for nine Oscars and took home three, while 2022’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” garnered four noms and won one trophy for visual effects. The third installment, “Avatar: Fire and Ash” was released on Friday. Meanwhile, fellow sci-fi flick, “Dune: Part One” hit theaters in 2021 while “Dune: Part Two” was released in 2024.