James Cameron Wants VFX Prices to Drop: “I’d Like To See the Cost of VFX Artists Come Down”

James Cameron is worried about the future of movies in theaters. In a new interview with the Associated Press, the filmmaker said the movie industry has to change if it wants to survive.

“The theatrical business is dwindling. Hopefully it doesn’t continue to dwindle. Right now, it’s plateaued at about 30% down from 2019 levels,” Cameron said.

He explained that fewer people are going to theaters, and the only way to bring audiences back is to make films that are worth seeing on the big screen. “Let’s hope it doesn’t get cannibalized more. In fact, let’s hope we can bring some of that magic back.”

The problem, according to Cameron, is that the movies that truly create that sense of magic aren’t being made as often anymore.

Big, ambitious films are expensive, and studios are hesitant to take the risk. “Those movies are not getting greenlit as much as they used to be because studios can’t afford them. Or they can only afford to take the risk on certain blue chip stocks, so it doesn’t allow new IP to get launched. It doesn’t allow new filmmakers to come into those genres.”

One of the biggest reasons budgets are so high is the cost of visual effects. VFX is what allows filmmakers to create huge, detailed worlds, realistic creatures, and breathtaking action scenes.

But it takes hundreds or even thousands of artists, each working on tiny details for months at a time. Powerful computers and massive amounts of rendering time are also needed to bring it all to life.

Every frame has to look flawless, and that requires long hours and big teams. That’s why VFX has become one of the most expensive parts of blockbuster filmmaking.

Cameron says this system has to change. “I’d like to see the cost of VFX artists come down,” he said. He knows this makes some workers nervous. “VFX artists get scared and say, ‘Oh, I’m going to be out of a job.’ I’m like, ‘No, the way you’re going to be out of a job is if trends continue and we just don’t make these kinds of movies anymore.’”

The director believes the solution is better tools and faster processes. If artists learn and adopt new technology, he argues, movies can be made more quickly and cheaply. “If you develop these tools or learn these tools, then your throughput will be quicker and that will bring the cost of productions down, and studios will be encouraged to make more and more of these types of films.”

For Cameron, lowering costs isn’t just about saving money. It’s about keeping big, cinematic stories alive. He calls it a cycle: if VFX becomes more affordable, studios can take more risks, new filmmakers can get their shot, and audiences will return to theaters for unforgettable experiences. “To me, that’s a virtuous cycle that we need to manifest. We need to make that happen or I think theatrical might never return.”

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