Avatar

"Enter the world of Pandora."

2009 2h 42m EN

🙌

7.6

BANGER

★7.6TMDB · 34,814

Science FictionActionAdventure

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In the 22nd century, a paraplegic Marine is dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission, but becomes torn between following orders and protecting an alien civilization.

“Enter the world of Pandora.”

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Cast

Sam Worthington
Jake Sully
Zoe Saldaña
Neytiri
Sigourney Weaver
Dr. Grace Augustine
Stephen Lang
Colonel Miles Quaritch
Michelle Rodriguez
Trudy Chacon
Giovanni Ribisi
Parker Selfridge
Joel David Moore
Norm Spellman
CCH Pounder
Mo'at

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: James Cameron
Writers: James Cameron, Conrad Olson
Languages: English, Spanish
Countries: United States of America, United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Clocks in at 162 minutes — on the longer side of feature-length cinema.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Budget of $237M — blockbuster tier. Only ~1% of films ever made reach this.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Grossed $2924M — a 12.3× return. The kind of profit studios chase for a decade.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 17 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Spanish.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United States of America, United Kingdom.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Avatar Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

1067+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

James Cameron directs. Mauro Fiore behind the camera. James Horner scores. John Refoua cuts. A long sit — settle in. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in United States of America, United Kingdom. Dialogue in English, Spanish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Clocks in at 162 minutes — on the longer side of feature-length cinema.
2Budget of $237M — blockbuster tier. Only ~1% of films ever made reach this.
3Grossed $2924M — a 12.3× return. The kind of profit studios chase for a decade.
4Released 17 years ago.
5Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Spanish.
6International production across 2 countries: United States of America, United Kingdom.
7Part of the "Avatar Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
81067+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.
9Directed by James Cameron, shot by Mauro Fiore. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
10Original score by James Horner. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
11Editor John Refoua shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
12Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña and Sigourney Weaver carry the top of the cast.
13Marketing tagline: "Enter the world of Pandora.".
14IMDB entry: tt0499549 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
1534,814 TMDB user ratings logged — serious cultural footprint.
16Classified under 28 themes, including "paraplegic", "attachment to nature", "culture clash", "indigenous".
17Released under 21 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Mauro Fiore
Original score: James Horner
Editing: John Refoua
Production design: Robert Stromberg
Costume design: Deborah L. Scott
Makeup / hair: Mike Smithson
VFX supervisor: Edson Williams
Sound: Christopher Boyes
Stunt coordinator: Stuart Thorp
Runtime: 162 min · 2h 42m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $237,000,000
Box office: $2,923,706,026
Return: 1234% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: Avatar (2009)

Awards

Academy Award for Best Visual Effects
Nastro d'Argento for Best 3D Film
Saturn Award for Best Production Design
Saturn Award for Best Director
Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama
Golden Globe Award for Best Director
Academy Award for Best Production Design
Academy Award for Best Cinematography

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Part of

Avatar Collection

The Avatar Collection tells the story of the world of Pandora, inhabited by the indigenous humanoids, the Na'vi. The main protagonist, Jake Sully, is sent to Pandora as an avatar—a hybrid of human and Na'vi. During his mission, Jake discovers the beauty and complexity of the Na'vi world and forms a deep connection with the planet's inhabitants. The collection focuses on the conflict between humans and the Na'vi and the struggle to save the world of Pandora.

Also by

James Cameron

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Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2020-04-25
★ 5/10
It's cinema Jim, but not as we know it. So here it is then, what has been in gestation in James Cameron's mind for over 12 years finally hit the silver screen towards the back end of 2009. Made for gazillions amount of cash, Avatar went on to make a billion trillion in Worldwide receipts-and this before the rush rush release of DVD/BLU RAY sales are factored into the equation. The film, and all its technical wizardry, is quite simply a gargantuan piece of cinematic history. Released in 2d and 3d, and probably some other format that I'm forgetting, every advanced tool of the trade has been utilised by Cameron and his team to create what is now the ultimate popcorn blockbuster. Shame then, that away from the visual extravaganza the film is as shallow as this review will ultimately end up being. No doubt about it, this is a joy for the eyes and ears, the minuscule details are wonderful and the colour positively pings from every frame. But in the eagerness to create such splendour they forgot to put any substance into the writing. This is plot simplicity. And even its messages, as Cameron smugly preaches his sermon from the pulpit, now seem old hat. Do we really need another boink over the head about eco invasion? Or a curt reminder of American infiltration into some land where motives are suspicious at best? No we don't really do we? Worse still is some of the dialogue, which quite frankly could have come from some playground encounter as the kiddies play kiss chase or bang bang your dead army. There's also a sense of familiarity with other better scripted film's, Dances cough With cough Wolves cough It's as if Cameron just knew that narrative structure wasn't as important as having the expensive gimmicks. He's like a modern day William Castle-only with considerably more readies at his disposal. The cast are OK, Zoe Saldana puts a sexy feistiness to her blue alien Neytiri, Sam Worthington keeps the humanistic elements just about above water, while Sigourney Weaver is as ever the consummate professional. But ironically, in a film shimmering bright in 2d & 3d, the characters are all one dimensional. None more so than Stephen "The Party Crasher" Lang's Colonel. A man so gruff and gung-ho menacing he really ought to be in Sly Stallone's upcoming testo movie The Expendables. Nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, it won three, for Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, and Best Art Direction. Those were richly deserved. They also tell us all we need to now about Cameron's Behemoth. 5/10
Manuel São Bento2022-12-17
★ 8/10
Rewatching Avatar confirmed my love for Pandora. Exquisite world-building by James Cameron, memorable score by James Horner & jaw-dropping, innovative visuals that complement wonderful storytelling. How can people not remember these characters?! Super excited about tomorrow's IMAX screening of Avatar: The Way of Water!
tomasfv2023-01-07
★ 10/10
Excellent!!!