James Cameron, the blockbuster mastermind behind Avatar
and Titanic,
has never played it safe, on screen or off. With over $8 billion in global box office clout and a shelf full of honorary degrees, he is not just a filmmaker; he is practically cinema royalty. Known for pushing the limits of filmmaking while keeping storytelling old-school, Cameron has earned his stripes. And now, with decades of firepower behind him, he is calling out Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer
.
Despite Oppenheimer
earning about a billion and sweeping seven Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, James Cameron believes Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed film fell short for one particular reason.
James Cameron breaks silence on why Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer fell short
James Cameron did not hold back when addressing Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer,
calling the omission of the atomic b—– devastating aftermath a “moral cop-out.”
He noted that while there is a fleeting moment showing charred bodies, the film quickly shifts focus to Oppenheimer’s
internal turmoil. Cameron suggested the film intentionally avoided the harsh reality, stating, “They did not want to touch, but I want to go straight at the third rail,”
. Whether it was a creative choice or studio pressure, his message was unmistakable.
James Cameron says Christopher Nolan not showing the darker effects of the atomic bombs in ‘OPPENHEIMER’ was a “moral cop out”:
“It’s not like Oppenheimer didn’t know the effects. He’s got one brief scene in the film where we see — and I don’t like to criticize another… pic.twitter.com/5ktkUbpIXZ
— ScreenTime (@screentime) June 27, 2025
Cameron was then made aware of Christopher Nolan’s remark that Oppenheimer
was not the right place for that story. Without hesitation, Cameron responded, “Okay, I’ll put up my hand. I’ll do it, Chris.”
He admitted the script has yet to be written but revealed he has been making notes for fifteen years, waiting for the moment when everything aligns and the story demands to be told. Though Cameron had sharp words for Oppenheimer
, he struck a different tone when discussing the Zoë Saldaña and Selena Gomez film in another interview.
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Cameron made it clear, he is a full-blown fan of Zoë Saldaña and Selena Gomez’s film, and he did not hold back on why it won him over.
James Cameron raves about film starring Zoë Saldaña and Selena Gomez
Last year, during an appearance on the Ringer Movies
podcast, James Cameron could not stop praising Emilia Pérez
. He revealed he had already watched it three times, calling it “bold”
and “daring,”
and described the experience as unlike anything he had seen before. What impressed the Avatar
director most was the film’s vision and execution. Cameron gave special credit to director Jacques Audiard, applauding his artistic choices and the powerful storytelling throughout.
James Cameron says ‘EMILIA PEREZ’ “blew him away.”
“It’s just not like any other film that’s ever been made. I think it’s bold, it’s daring, it’s a vision. It’s beautifully executed. It’s a beautiful piece of filmmaking. Zoe [Saldaña] is fantastic in it.” pic.twitter.com/yAzFjPCrSp
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) December 24, 2024
Alongside praising Audiard’s masterful direction, Cameron expressed deep admiration for Zoë Saldaña, calling her “fantastic”
and predicting a long-overdue wave of recognition for her exceptional talent. He believes Emilia Pérez
defies categorization. While he candidly pointed out the flaw in Oppenheimer
, when The Terminator
once faced intense criticism, Cameron did not hesitate to fire back and defend his creation
. Nonetheless, while he celebrates bold storytelling elsewhere, Cameron has made it clear: he is far from impressed with Oppenheimer.
What do you think about James Cameron’s remarks? Let us know in the comments below.