James Cameron blasts Oscars for snubbing sci‑fi as Avatar 3 opens, cites Dune and audience focus

James Cameron is publicly challenging the Academy Awards' treatment of science-fiction, arguing that films like Avatar and Dune have long been overlooked by the Academy. In an interview with The Globe and Mail published Friday, the director said, "Intentionally, I don’t think about that at this point. I don’t try to make a movie to appeal to their sensibility… they don’t tend to honor films like Avatar or films that are science fiction." The remarks arrive as his latest installment, Avatar: Fire and Ash, opened in theaters on Friday.

Cameron pointed to Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films as an example of the disconnect, noting that Dune: Part One earned ten Oscar nominations and Dune: Part Two picked up five, including wins for visual effects and sound, but Villeneuve wasn’t nominated for Best Director. He contrasted that with Everything Everywhere All at Once, which won Best Picture in 2023 as the first science-fiction film to do so, calling attention to the awards landscape as a whole. Cameron also noted that Avatar and Dune films have been major box-office successes even without top-category wins, underscoring his philosophy that a movie's reach matters more than its award tally. Avatar: The Way of Water earned four Oscar nominations and won a single trophy for visual effects.

What Cameron describes as his guiding principle remains unchanged: the theater experience. He said, "What I try to do, and what I’ve always tried to do for my entire filmmaking career, is to create the most riveting and engaging experience in a movie theatre that I can conceivably, humanly do." The comment aligns with a career-long emphasis on audience immersion over industry accolades.

In a separate discussion, Cameron addressed Matt Damon’s past statements that he was offered the lead role of Jake Sully in Avatar. "He was never offered the part," Cameron told The Hollywood Reporter. "I can’t remember if I sent him the script or not. Then we wound up on a call and he said, ‘I love to explore doing a movie with you. I have a lot of respect for you as a filmmaker. [Avatar] sounds intriguing.’" Cameron added that Damon’s unavailability likely stemmed from his commitment to other projects, including Bourne films, which led to Sam Worthington taking the role and the film ultimately becoming the highest-grossing movie of all time at $2.9 billion worldwide. He added that Damon is someone he respects and would happily work with in the future if the opportunity arose. Damon has previously described turning down Avatar due to scheduling constraints.

Cameron’s Oscars pedigree remains substantial: three Academy Awards for Titanic, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Film Editing. Yet the director has frequently framed his career around audience engagement rather than award shows. As Avatar: Fire and Ash joins the franchise’s blockbuster footprint, Cameron’s commentary underscores a continuing debate about the relationship between critical recognition and popular appeal. The director’s stance also echoes his recent pattern of publicly scrutinizing industry decisions while continuing to push for ambitious, audience-driven storytelling.