The most talked-about scene in 'Fire and Ash' just might be the Cameron favorite, and the director had to push to keep it: "Guys, you’re about to become unemployed — put it back, every line."

"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.

Yes, James Cameron's 'favorite scene' in “Avatar: Fire and Ash” is that 'erotic' drug trip (exclusive) James Cameron, writer and director of the hit Avatar franchise, talks to PEOPLE about the newest installment, Fire and Ash

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.

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.

Cameron recounted in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter that the Ash People were inspired by his trip to meet the Baining people of Papua New Guinea. The Mangkwan's fire-dancing and burned out village are ripped right from what Cameron witnessed while visiting the Baining people.

Fire and Ash is nothing short of a big-budget extravaganza that excels on almost every level. If the movie feels a bit too lengthy at certain intervals early on before it becomes great, the film more than makes up for that problem in many other areas.

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.

James Cameron teases more 'Avatar' death to come after 'The Way of Water:' 'The fact that we killed off a major character in the last film gives the audience permission to believe that we might do it again.

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 third movie in the “Avatar” franchise— is new in theaters. Will the Oscar-winning filmmaker return to Pandor for more chapters in the science fiction franchise or call it a day?

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.