- James Cameron has responded to criticism over his use of 3D and high frame rate in his upcoming film Avatar: Fire and Ashesand its 2022 prequel
- Sharing his thoughts in an interview with Discussing Film, he bluntly said, “I like it and it’s my movie”
- On top of this backlash, Cameron has been hit with another copyright infringement lawsuit by fellow animator Eric Ryder
The third part of James Cameron’s Avatar movie series, Avatar: Fire and Ashes (2025), comes out this week, but the director has already received his fair share of criticism for his use of 3D, and a copyright infringement lawsuit has also arisen.
In addition to pointing out the use of 3D, critics have voiced harsh criticism of the film’s high frame rate, which some have called “too creepy”. Both Avatar: Fire and Ashes and its prequel Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) uses a staggering 48 frames per second, double the standard film speed of 24.
However, the billionaire director has not remained silent, but has given a direct and direct response to the wave of backlash in an interview with Discussing Film, saying: “I think $2.3 billion says you might be wrong about that.”
Cameron then added, “Well, that’s the argument from authority. But the argument from artistry is that I happen to like it and it’s my movie.”
James Cameron Responds to Criticism of His Use of 3D and High Frame Rate in ‘AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH’ “I think $2.3 billion says you might be wrong. Well, that’s the authority’s argument. But the artistic argument is: I like it and it’s my movie.” pic.twitter.com/o7pwU5b9WY13 December 2025
But this isn’t the only investigation Cameron is facing in the run-up to his next blockbuster. Just when you think things couldn’t get any worse, along comes a copyright infringement lawsuit – and it’s not the first time Cameron has been hit with one.
Ryder vs Cameron
On Monday, 3D animator Eric Ryder filed a lawsuit against Disney and Cameron, claiming he plagiarized his work in the second Avatar film, Avatar: The Way of Water.
However, this is not the first time that Ryder has filed a lawsuit against Cameron. Back in 2011, Ryder sued Cameron for similar reasons during the first film installment, Avatar (2009), but the case was eventually dismissed. According to his latest lawsuit, “This action is not an attempt to recycle prior claims” and instead “challenges new acts of copying that occur for the first time in Avatar 2.”
IN Avatar: The Way of WaterRyder says its plot focuses on “the harvesting of an animal-based substance that, when refined, can extend human life,” which he claims was an integral story of his own KRZ idea but was not used for the first one Avatar film.
While Cameron has been vocal about criticism of his use of 3D and high frame rates in his work, neither he nor Lightstorm Entertainment have issued a statement regarding Ryder’s lawsuit.
Avatar: Fire and Ashes will be released in US theaters on December 19, 2025. Its first two films, Avatar (2009) and Avatar: The Way of Water, can be streamed on Disney+.
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