James Cameron Says He Moved His Family to New Zealand Because the U.S. Is “Not Sane”

Filmmaker James Cameron has officially bid farewell to the United States to make a permanent home in New Zealand. The director of Avatar: Fire and Ash recently explained that his decision was heavily influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. He felt that New Zealand’s response to the global health crisis was far superior to how things were handled in America.

Cameron discussed his big move during a candid conversation on the latest episode of In Depth with Graham Besinger. He revealed that he and his wife, Suzy Amis Cameron, decided to relocate their family for good in August 2020. The couple had already owned a farm in the country since 2011, but the pandemic accelerated their plans to stay there full-time.

The director did not mince words when comparing the two nations. He expressed deep frustration with how the United States managed the virus and the political polarization that surrounded it. Cameron praised New Zealand for its science-based approach and high vaccination numbers.

During the interview, he noted that New Zealand had a 98% vaccination rate at a critical time. He contrasted this with the United States, where the rate was significantly lower. “People there are, for the most part, sane as opposed to the United States where you had a 62% vaccination rate, and that’s going down – going the wrong direction,” Cameron stated.

He went on to ask a rhetorical question about where a person would prefer to reside. “Where would you rather live? A place that actually believes in science and is sane and where people can work together cohesively to a common goal, or a place where everybody’s at each other’s throats, extremely polarized, turning its back on science and basically would be in utter disarray if another pandemic appears.”

When the host suggested that the U.S. was still a fantastic place to live, Cameron challenged the notion immediately. He interjected with a sharp, “Is it?” He further clarified that his love for New Zealand was not just about the views. “I’m not there for scenery, I’m there for the sanity,” he emphasized.

Cameron’s love affair with the country actually began decades ago. He first visited in 1994 and felt an immediate connection to the land and the people. “I made myself a promise. ‘I’m going to come live here someday,’” he recalled telling himself at the time.

His wife Suzy was supportive of the idea from the very beginning of their relationship. “When Suzy and I were first getting serious, she said, ‘Fine, no problem.’ She was game,” Cameron shared. Although their family roots in Malibu and Santa Barbara delayed the move for a while, they eventually committed to the change after filming the Avatar sequels.

James Cameron is currently 71 years old and remains one of the most successful figures in Hollywood history. He is best known for directing massive blockbuster hits that push the boundaries of technology. His career skyrocketed with the sci-fi classic The Terminator and its sequel, Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

He later directed Titanic in 1997, which became the highest-grossing film of all time for many years. That record was eventually broken by Cameron himself with the release of the first Avatar movie in 2009. He is known for his passion for deep-sea exploration and environmental conservation, interests that align well with his new life in New Zealand.

Currently, his latest film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, is playing in theaters globally. This is the third installment in the massive five-movie franchise he has planned. The movie stars returning cast members Sam Worthington as Jake Sully and Zoe Saldaña as Neytiri.

The new film introduces a more aggressive clan of Na’vi known as the “Ash People,” representing the element of fire. This marks a departure from the forest and ocean settings of the previous two films. The cast also includes Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, and Kate Winslet.

Cameron has already filmed portions of the fourth movie to avoid continuity issues with the younger actors. Avatar 4 is currently scheduled for release in 2029, with a fifth and final movie planned for 2031. These films are expected to conclude the epic saga of the Sully family on the moon of Pandora.

Beyond his professional life, Cameron has a large family. He shares three children with his current wife, Suzy Amis Cameron, whom he married in 2000. He also has a daughter named Josephine with his ex-wife, actress Linda Hamilton.

We would be interested to hear if you agree with Cameron’s views on “sanity” and science, so please share your thoughts in the comments.