At the end of 2025, James Cameron returned to the expansive world of Pandora with the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third movie in his massive sci-fi franchise. While the threequel did not reach the same box office milestones as its predecessors (which are two of the three highest-grossing films in history), it still grossed nearly $1.49 billion at the box office, good for the third-best numbers of 2025 behind Ne Zha 2 and Zootopia 2. However, as Cameron fans know all too well, the director has spoken often about plans for this saga to consist of five movies, which will take about another half-decade to accomplish.

Cameron is currently in production on Avatar 4, which has not had its official title revealed as of writing. The sequel is not set to be released in theaters until late 2029, but concerns are already being raised about whether the film can be made on a smaller budget than the original trilogy, which were reportedly made on budgets ranging from over $230 million to nearly $450 million. However, as production gets going on the newest chapter in this saga, the main focus for the time being is how the story will evolve into its next stages.

Speaking with The Direct at the Saturn Awards, Avatar 4 star Trinity Jo-Li Bliss shared an update on production for James Cameron’s Avatar 4. Revealing that the first part of it has been filmed, she also teased “an epic time jump” that will “really expand this story” for both the characters and the “ecosystems of Pandora,” having barely “touched the tip of the iceberg for what we know about this world:”

“We filmed a first little section of it, and that’s before this epic time jump, which is gonna really expand this story from the charcters’ plans, exosystems of Pandora, and it’s like…We barely touched the tip of the iceberg for what we know about this world and these characters and how deep they go.”

Bliss also touched on Cameron’s master plan for a five-movie franchise, reflecting on how the second and third movie were “made in mind” with the next two Avatar films. Calling it “a whole story” that she hopes can be finished, she teased that the next two films are “a whole next chapter” on their own:

“Sometimes, I feel kept on my toes. But yes, I do know how many we have. I guess that’s the cool thing, because ‘The Way of Water’ and ‘Fire and Ash’ were made with ‘[Avatar] 4’ and ‘5,’ and it’s a whole story that I just hope we get to finish, because ‘The Way of Water and ‘Fire and Ash’ are basically one story, and ‘4’ and ‘5’ are going to be a whole ‘nother thing, a whole next chapter.”

Asked about her reaction to the reception for these movies, she noted that it has “been really cool,” reflecting on the press tour being “actually kind of emotional” as she met fans from all over the world:

“Oh my gosh. It’s been really cool. I guess I could say it’s been really fire since ‘Fire and Ash.’ But yeah, I think it was actually kind of emotional on the press tour, getting to meet so many fans in Italy, in Paris, in L.A., and also just see virtually everybody experiencing this beautiful film together. I think seeing them get so into it, cosplaying and telling us all of their thoughts with contagious affection…it was really out of this world.”

Cameron already took the Avatar story forward by a long time after the first movie, with 2022’s Avatar: The Way of Water set over 15 years after the events of the original 2009 film. Then, 2025’s Avatar: Fire and Ash started almost immediately after the second movie ended, setting the stage for this narrative to move even further into the future for the fourth movie.

Cameron previously confirmed that Avatar 4 will take place about eight years after its predecessor, which will make Bliss’s Tuk a teenager by the time she returns to action. Considering she is the youngest Sully child, the story is sure to take a much more adult turn in Pandora’s return to the big screen, leaving specific storylines for her and the rest of her family still in question.

Avatar 4 is set to debut in theaters on Dec. 21, 2029.

Release Date

December 21, 2029

Producers

Jon Landau

Of all the movies that Paramount Pictures announced during their presentation at this year’s CinemaCon, one of the most unexpected reveals was that a new World War Z film was on the way. It’s not entirely surprising that a horror movie that earned $540 million worldwide would be getting a new entry, but rather it was surprising that, after so many starts and stops over the years, a sequel seems to actually be taking shape. The presentation, though, failed to offer any insight into what this upcoming chapter would explore or what figures from the original film could return.

The first World War Z focused on Gerry (Brad Pitt), a former United Nations investigator who gets separated from his family as a zombie outbreak begins. He spends the rest of the movie traversing the globe in hopes of reuniting with his family, which includes his wife Karin, who was played by Mireille Enos. It’s unknown if Pitt is expected to reprise his role, and Enos herself recently admitted that she doesn’t even know if she’ll be returning.

When speaking with Screen Rant about a possible return, Enos admitted:

“There have been different versions, hopeful versions over these past 15 years. So we’ll see. The past conversations about a second World War Z did include my character, but I have no official information at this time.”

The actor did say that they “hope” to be involved in the next chapter and that it “would be incredible” to come back for the sequel, so even if she’s unaware of plans for the sequel, she sounds intrigued by the notion.

World War Z is based on the book of the same name by Max Brooks, which was a collection of stories about different parts of the world all reacting to a zombie virus at different points in the wake of the first outbreak. The movie was a bit different in this sense, as it focused primarily on one character, though the structure of the narrative allowed Gerry to experience a variety of zombie encounters around the globe. Based on that fragmented storytelling, we wouldn’t be surprised if the next movie delivers an approach like the 28 Days Later franchise, which largely jumped from one batch of characters to the next as that timeline progressed.

Another component that might keep Enos out of the picture, however, is that, while Paramount Pictures confirmed another entry was on the way, they didn’t share whether it would be a continuation of the original movie or if it would merely be another story set in this world, potentially taking place parallel to the first installment. As Enos mentioned, there have been multiple iterations of a sequel over the years, which included plans to have David Fincher reunite with Pitt for a sequel. That attempt was just one of the many abandoned follow-ups from the past decade.

Anyone who has been following the franchise will recognize how familiar the current situation sounds; the first movie was announced in 2007, but it took multiple scripts and various reshoots to get the movie into theaters. Even though the movie was a hit, it had a reported production budget of $270 million, so it would seem that Paramount wouldn’t want to start filming until they were much more certain about the next movie’s trajectory.

Hailing from Sony Pictures Animation, the studio behind Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, GOAT opened in theaters earlier this year and served a major slam dunk. The basketball-themed sports comedy, directed by Tyree Dillihay and produced by NBA legend Stephen Curry, was a massive critical and commercial success when it hit the big screen in February. It dominated the box office and earned rave reviews, with some even hailing it as a modern successor to Space Jam. Now, three months later, it is bouncing its way onto streaming – giving those who missed it the first time around a chance to discover why it was such a triumph.

GOAT is an original action-comedy set in a world of anthropomorphic animals in the same spirit as Zootopia, though many people actually view it as a modern-day equivalent to the 1996 Michael Jordan classic Space Jam due to them both being set in a sport-centric universe boasting high-stakes cartoon action. Stranger Things alum Caleb McLaughlin leads the voice cast as Will Harris, who, per the official synopsis for the film (below), is an underdog goat that dreams of becoming a pro player in a high-intensity sport called “roarball,” which is kind of similar to basketball but dominated by much larger, fiercer animal creatures.

“The story follows Will, a small goat with big dreams who gets a once-in-a-lifetime shot to join the pros and play roarball – a high-intensity, co-ed, full-contact sport dominated by the fastest, fiercest animals in the world. Will’s new teammates aren’t thrilled about having a little goat on their roster, but Will is determined to revolutionize the sport and prove once and for all that ‘smalls can ball!'”

McLaughlin is in good company in the voice cast, as he is joined by his former Stranger Things costar David Harbour as well as Curry, Gabriella Union, Aaron Pierre, Nicola Coughlan, Nick Kroll, Jennifer Hudson, and Patton Oswalt. Their combined star power and the positive word of mouth about the film seemingly helped to attract audiences, as GOAT emerged as a significant box office success, earning $192 million worldwide, per Box Office Mojo. It also surpassed Space Jam at the domestic box office to become the highest-grossing basketball film of all time and even managed to dethrone the 1976 boxing classic Rocky.

This is a developing story…

Michael B. Jordan has been a powerhouse in Hollywood for years, thanks in large part to collaborating with Ryan Coogler for the movies Fruitvale Station, Creed, and Black Panther. His star somehow manages to burn brighter with each project he takes part in, and when he won an Oscar earlier this year for his performance in Sinners, he’s arguably never been a more sought-after talent. The performer seems to be taking full advantage of his clout, pursuing some of the biggest properties out there, as confirmed by the report earlier this month that he was developing a movie based on the Battlefield video game series.

Making the adaptation an even more thrilling project that studios want to get their hands on is the fact that Mission: Impossible filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie was attached to the project, now that his time in the Tom Cruise-starring series has seemingly come to an end. The pairing of Jordan and McQuarrie and the coveted Battlefield property is reportedly so intense that, according to TheWrap, five studios are all gunning for the rights to the project. The outlet claims that Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, Sony, Amazon MGM Studios, and Universal are all trying to secure the movie.

At this point in development, it might be too early to tell which studio is the frontrunner. Jordan just won his Oscar for Sinners, which was produced by Warner Bros., so there’s one advantage that this studio might have. However, with Warner Bros. and Paramount currently in the middle of a massive merger, it’s possible that their focus could be elsewhere, or that Jordan and McQuarrie might not want to be part of that union. On the other hand, McQuarrie delivered multiple Mission: Impossible sequels at Paramount, with the looming merger possibly enticing the filmmaker. Jordan is currently set to star in Miami Vice ’85, and with that adaptation coming from Universal, it could be a point in that studio’s favor.

Unlike various other video game series, Battlefield isn’t especially known for a specific narrative or character. Instead, it places players in the middle of historical combat, often using era-appropriate artillery to help you achieve objectives. For the uninitiated, Battlefield has a lot in common with a first-person shooter like Call of Duty, but where Call of Duty has smaller maps and an emphasis on individual firepower, Battlefield has much larger maps and also utilizes a variety of vehicles.

Keeping those similarities going is the fact that there’s also currently a Call of Duty adaptation in the works, which also has high-profile filmmakers attached. As confirmed last fall, Taylor Sheridan and Peter Berg are attached to a Call of Duty movie, which has a release date of June 30, 2028.

James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU is set to expand with two more feature films and a television series in 2026, though it will be some time before the next “Elseworlds” project is released in theaters. The Batman was Matt Reeves’ take on the greatest detective in comic book history, produced and released in 2022, a few months before the change in leadership at DC Studios. The restructuring of the studio led many projects to be canceled or reshaped, though Reeves’ sequel, The Batman – Part II, would endure. The franchise even expanded with a spin-off show featuring Colin Farrell’s Penguin, though it has taken some time for The Batman follow-up to go into production.

Now, four years since the first film, new details have begun to emerge about The Batman – Part II. Casting rumors early on in the year had big names like Brad Pitt and Scarlett Johansson circling the project, though only the latter would be confirmed to be in the cast alongside Sebastian Stan, who has reportedly been hired as Harvey Dent. The plot of the movie has also been kept a secret, with not much known other than Reeves’ desire to tell a story that features a villain that hasn’t been done in a movie before.

Despite the secretive nature surrounding the project, actor Andy Serkis has teased that the story for the highly anticipated sequel is ambitious. While on the Happy Sad Confused podcast promoting his film Animal Farm, Serkis (who plays Bruce Wayne’s butler, Alfred Pennyworth) called the movie a “huge swing” as well as teasing that The Batman 2 is “deeper, darker, and more emotional” than the first movie. The Batman ends with much of Gotham flooded because of the Riddler’s (Paul Dano) terrorist attack, with much of the infrastructure of the city compromised.

The tumultuous pre-production of The Batman – Part II caused the project to experience significant delays, ultimately leaving the sequel with a release date of October 2027, over five years since the first movie was released. Because of this, Serkis said in a separate interview with Den of Geek that he isn’t entirely sure where the story of the film is at this point. This is because he “read a script a long way back, but I know it’s evolved and changed since, so I have no idea where it is at the moment.” Nevertheless, he explained his creative relationship with Reeves, which goes a long way back.

“[Matt Reeves] and I worked on the Planet of the Apes movies together first of all, and we developed a very strong friendship, and actually one of the themes that sort of link us is his relationship to fatherhood. So his is always an emotional approach, and he took a very emotional approach to Batman. In the first film, the relationship between Alfred and Batman is quite an emotional one. And that notion of father is important going back to your original [Apes]. It’s very present for us both, so I’ll be interested to see if that develops in this one.”

The Batman 2 may be a long time coming, but given Matt Reeves’ track record, the film will hopefully be worth the wait. Aside from this upcoming sequel, James Gunn and Peter Safran have also made it clear that they are planning to introduce a new version of Batman to integrate into the shared universe of DCU films. It’s unknown if the Brave and the Bold project that was announced when Gunn and Safran first took over DC Studios has impacted the production schedule of The Batman, or if plans for the Epic Crime Saga will be cut short to make way for a new version of the character.

When it comes to martial arts classics, there is an eclectic roster of skilled actors and fight choreographers who have helped to craft some of the best action ever put on film. American audiences have become familiar with numerous impressive talents, like Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Donnie Yen. While others have made their mark, with even Jean-Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris finding their time to shine, the truly skilled masters of the genre can make paltry films by the likes of Steven Seagal feel like the pipe dreams of an aspiring white belt.

In the world of martial arts action, filmmakers and actors often compete to prove who is the best, ramping up the action in ways others wouldn’t dare. While fighters like Lee delivered unparalleled speed, Chan was willing to sacrifice his body for unbelievable stunts. Even before the names that many revere today, the Shaw brothers were helping to define what peak martial arts cinema was in the 1970s. Through it all, the genre’s nature changed, choreography took on new forms, and cameras found new angles, leading to a library of classics that feature perfect action from start to finish. With such an impressive lineup of stars and acclaimed films, it’s only right to highlight a mix of martial arts disciplines and a few gems that don’t get enough attention for the action thrills they deliver.

‘Fist of Legend’ (1994)

Fist of Legend is one of Jet Li‘s best displays of fighting talent. The story is simple enough, as the plot follows a skilled martial artist who returns home to Shanghai in 1937 and finds the school he left behind under threat from the Japanese. With his teacher dead, his hand is forced into action, and he puts his skills to good use, with Li’s fast, realistic approach giving the movie a visceral style that sets it apart from many martial arts films of the era, featuring standout scenes in the dojo showdown and the blindfolded fight.

One of the biggest reasons Fist of Legend features such impressive action is the involvement of Yuen Woo-Ping as the fight choreographer. Yuen is a legendary director, with classics like Drunken Master under his belt, and his career would see him serving as a fight choreographer on massive productions like The Matrix and Kill Bill. Fist of Legend is notably a remake of Bruce Lee’s 1972 movie Fist of Fury, which is also a stellar film in its own right, making it all the more impressive that this story has two action-packed iterations that are considered classics worth seeing.

‘Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior’ (2003)

Sahamongkol Film International

Tony Jaa is an absolute beast when it comes to hard-hitting, fast-paced fights, and Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior was built from the ground up to show the world what he could do. Jaa utilizes Muay Thai, which features heavy use of elbows and knees, and looks very different from the kung fu and judo many American audiences were used to seeing. Ong-Bak emphasizes realism. The film makes it clear to the audience that Jaa is performing all his own stunts, the impacts are real, and the production used no wires.

Ong-Bak was such a calling card to the action-movie world that the narrative flow was purposely broken throughout to highlight impressive stunts from multiple camera angles, letting viewers see just how talented Jaa was, whether kneeing someone while his leg is set aflame, or running across people’s shoulders. There are also hidden messages written on walls calling out classic names in the genre, like Chan and Li. With it built to be an endless display of one man’s action-movie talents, audiences got exactly that, and Ong-Bak remains one of the most relentlessly hard-hitting martial arts movies ever made.

‘Iron Monkey’ (1993)

Golden Harvest

Any list talking about fantastic fight scenes in martial arts films would be remiss for not including at least one of Yen’s numerous spectacular titles. While the Ip Man films are fantastic, and choices like Flash Point are sure to please audiences, Iron Monkey is often overlooked. One of the many classics directed by Yuen Woo-Ping, Iron Monkey sees Yen at the height of his skills, putting on kinetic displays of fighting talent, mixed with the graceful styling of high-flying wirework. The result is a violent ballet of action.

Fans of Iron Monkey often point to creative fight scenes, like the umbrellas or the fiery finale, as being masterful displays that any genre fan needs to see. Yen also captures humor in the Robin Hood-esque story, which found its way to American audiences thanks to lauded director Quentin Tarantino, who championed a 2001 theatrical release.

‘The Way of the Dragon’ (1972)

When it comes to Lee’s body of work, his top-tier entries are hard to argue with, as Enter the Dragon, Game of Death, and Fist of Fury are all fantastic in their own right. However, The Way of the Dragon may feature Lee’s best fight scenes from start to finish. Most recall the iconic final battle between Lee and Norris, which remains a stellar display from both accomplished martial artists. Still, beyond the famous brawl, the movie is easily the best example of Lee’s own personal philosophies shining through on screen.

Along with starring in The Way of the Dragon, Lee wrote, directed, and served as the lead stunt director. With such creative control, Lee was able to highlight the martial arts philosophy he founded, Jeet Kune Do, crafting fight sequences where his speed could thrive, showcasing how simple, quick attacks could be highly effective when adapting to various other styles. Jeet Kune Do is also considered a precursor to Mixed Martial Arts, with The Way of the Dragon being an excellent display of Lee’s pioneering talents in front of and behind the camera.

‘The 36th Chamber of Shaolin’ (1978)

Shaw Brothers Studio

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin is one of the many masterpieces produced by the Shaw brothers, with director Chia-Liang Liu (also credited as Lau Kar-leung on some films) being no stranger to crafting classics, as he was also at the helm of 1984’s The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter and 1994’s Drunken Master II, which will be important again in a moment. The story follows a legendary Shaolin martial arts disciple named San Te, out to avenge the deaths of his loved ones, which comes with intense training. It’s a simple story that has endured as a classic, with the action still serving as a genre benchmark to this day.

One of the unique aspects of The 36th Chamber of Shaolin comes from the extensive, innovative fight sequences, which offered a realistic, disciplined approach to the practice of kung fu. The film masterfully ramps up through impeccably choreographed training as the protagonist navigates unique chambers, often employing distinct moves like headbutts in one instance, and even little-seen weaponry, like the three-section staff, with stylistic perfection. The various innovations and earned climax make the Shaw Brothers-produced classic a continued recommendation thanks to its action chops.

‘Drunken Master II’ (1994)

Golden Harvest

This is where Drunken Master II becomes important again, as Lau is credited as director, with Chan as stunt director. Chan is also often cited as a co-director for his creative influence over the movie. Drunken Master is the 1978 original, an action masterpiece that genre fans need to see, but it’s safe to say that Drunken Master II improves on the first film’s fighting and choreography in just about every way.

Drunken Master II is an exceptional display of Chan’s speed, infusing the unique drunken boxing style with an artistic flair that complements his impeccable skill and even comedic sensibilities. The fights are creative, infused with innovative techniques and martial arts that audiences don’t often see, even from Chan, and the fast-paced, high-energy action delivers one of the star’s best action-packed classics.

‘Wheels on Meals’ (1984)

When it comes to Chan’s filmography, people are quick to mention Police Story, Project A, or even an American hit like Rush Hour. However, one of his best martial arts movies is the often-overlooked Wheels on Meals. The movie features plenty of comedic elements that Chan has become known for infusing into his fights, with director Sammo Hung bringing his action choreography skills to the production, helping to cultivate the impressive martial arts antics.

Wheels on Meals features some of Chan’s fastest, most frantic fight sequences. Audiences can see him incorporating a skateboard into combat and kicking someone off a moving motorcycle, all before a third act that could easily be one of Chan’s finest moments. The finale sees him battling Benny Urquidez in a rapid-fire exchange that is sure to silence any naysayers who think the film’s title couldn’t possibly deliver such intense action.

‘The Kid with the Golden Arm’ (1979)

Shaw Brothers Studio

The Kid with the Golden Arm is another Shaw Brothers-produced classic that is often overlooked. The 1979 film won’t win points for an overly elaborate plot, as many fans cite it as a loose framework for the impressive action that it packs into its short 86-minute runtime. There are also various weapon-centric fights, allowing the titular antagonist’s ability to shine, as he can shatter the deadly tools with his bare hands.

The film offers inventive, acrobatic choreography thanks to The Venom Mob, who lend their high-energy talents to the production, keeping the plot about protecting gold moving at a fast pace. The fight between Short Axe and Silver Spear is particularly fantastic, as there is plenty of close-quarters weapon work complemented by an almost balletic style and climactic finale. When it comes to classic martial arts movies built for nonstop action, it doesn’t get much better than The Kid with the Golden Arm.