‘I think $2.3 billion says you might be wrong on that’: James Cameron shoots down critics of 3D in Avatar, as fresh lawsuit emerges from animator

Someone's a little blue in the face

18 Dec 2025 · TechRadar

News By Rowan Davies published 18 December 2025

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James Cameron has responded to criticism over his use of 3D and high frame rate in his upcoming movie Avatar: Fire and Ash, and its 2022 prequel
He shared his thoughts in an interview with Discussing Film, bluntly saying, "I happen to like it, and it's my movie"
On top of this backlash, Cameron has been hit with a second copyright infringement lawsuit by fellow animator Eric Ryder

The third installment to James Cameron’s Avatar film series, Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025), is set to release this week, but the director has already received a fair share of criticism for his use of 3D, and a copyright infringement lawsuit has emerged at the same time.

As well as pointing out the use of 3D, critics have voiced harsh criticism of the movie’s high frame rate, which some have called 'too uncanny'. Both Avatar: Fire and Ash and its prequel Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) use a staggering 48 frames per second, which is twice the standard movie frame rate of 24.

The billion-dollar-grossing director hasn’t remained silent, however, giving a blunt and upfront response to the wave of backlash in an interview with Discussing Film, saying, "I think $2.3 billion says you might be wrong on that."

Cameron then added, "Well, that's the argument from authority. But the argument from artistic is, I happen to like it, and it's my movie.”

But this isn’t the only scrutiny that Cameron is facing in the lead-up to his next blockbuster. Just when you think things couldn’t get worse, along comes a copyright infringement lawsuit – and it’s not the first time Cameron’s been hit with one.

Ryder vs Cameron

On Monday, 3D animator Eric Ryder filed a lawsuit against Disney and Cameron, claiming that he plagiarized his work in the second Avatar movie, Avatar: The Way of Water.

According to Reuters, Ryder says he previously worked with Cameron’s production company, Lightstorm Entertainment, to make a movie based on his sci-fi story KRZ. KRZ, who is suing Cameron for $500 million in damages and is also requesting a court order blocking the new film's release.

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