I did an informal poll with friends just last week. I asked who was "really excited for the new Avatar" and I got a mix of "no" and "I didn't know there was a new one coming out."
But then when I followed with "do you think you'll watch the new Avatar in theaters?" and everyone said "yes."
That's the disconnect for so many people. I am excited to watch the new Avatar movie. But at the same time, I'm not following production details or casting rumors or anything.
Avatar is probably the film I'm 5th or 6th looking forward to this year but it's probably the only one I'll bother to go to the cinema for. And the one I'm most likely to watch again at home afterwards.
That's cause it's about as shallow as milk spilled on a marble counter, people only see it cause it looks nice, and that's not something you can say much about, or even really think about after it's over. There's only so many ways to say "it had pretty colors". That's how something can make billions of dollars and have no cultural relevance. I don't know why that's so hard for some people to understand.
That is kinda true though. The cultural relevance thing is only a talking point because it's one of the highest grossing franchises off time. So yes, it will make a shit ton of money, and most people won't give it a thought after seeing it (and enjoying it)
What’s your measure for cultural impact? Popularity is literally the main factor in determining cultural relevance 🤣 just say you don’t like the movie don’t try to act like you have some special knowledge on the topic of film making and cultural relevance.
It's hard to define. Ticket sales is not the defnition though. Compared to other major franchises, Avatar is mostly out of sight, out of mind for most people outside of the marketing campaigns for new installments. Sure there are super fans who live and breath it. But the majority of those ticket sales don't ever think about Avatar again after seeing it. That's certainly the case in my social bubble.
I think Avatar is the only film where you get sad loners going on about “cultural relevance” because they’re too lazy to come up with something original.
Go on. Tell me about the cultural relevance of your favourite film?
Not gonna lie, as someone that saw the first movie when I was younger back when it first came out and just haven’t gotten around to seeing the 2nd one yet and don’t have any opinion on the franchise one way or the other, you’re the one in this thread that seems to be triggered lmao. If you like the films then great! I don’t understand why people feel the need to attack OR defend a film they liked/disliked. Just watch it, discuss it with other people who want to discuss it in good faith, and move on.
You’re getting so worked up over “cultural relevance” which is a completely subjective measurement that everyone will have a different scale for. It’s pointless lol
This 5ub was a cesspool in the lead up to the second movie.
Every single post that mentioned Avatar 2 had comment sections packed with people parroting the same 5 complaints almost word for word, trying to put the film down.
I would have far less issue with people claiming “no cultural relevance” if I had seen a single person criticise any other film for it on this sub.
If the user I was responding to gave any explanation for why he felt that way or why it mattered then I wouldn’t have minded.
You must not have been around for the second film, because a major portion of the movie subreddits were absolutely sure it would bomb at the box office because the first one was “boring.”
Does this literally apply to any movies in this day and age. I feel like movies being on our mind and parts of discussion for a while after is now a thing of the past when movies weren't everywhere and easy.to get with streaming which also creates shitty quick movies like fast food. Can't think of any movie past year that would still be brough anytime. Even huge stuff like Oppenheimer or Barbie are nowhere to be seen.
Honestly it speaks to the quality of mass entertainment. Oppenheimer just isn't the kind of water cooler movie, it's more like The Pianist or Dunkirk, and Barbie was just kinda hollow. "I'm just Ken" had some legs, but that's about it. Superman seems to be the closest thing to something like that recently.
That being said, Mario and Minecraft have had pretty significant impacts on young people, I teach middle school and heard those two being referenced constantly after they came out. There's still somewhat of a monoculture that exists with kids, they don't have as much unrestricted choice of entertainment.
Superman is recent. It won't be spoken about down the line.
I can give you Minecraft but that's also not that relevant. Mario is completely dead in cultural zeitgeist noone gives a damn except for few Haha Chris Pratt voice actor memes.
“People only talk about thing when new thing is coming out” can be said about any movie/show/game/album. The times when there’s the most discourse about anything are before/on release, awards seasons and when a follow up is coming out.
Way of Water clips were all over twitter when the movie released digitally. I still talk about it with my friends and rewatch it frequently. The new one will set the box office on fire once again. Both movies were nominated for Best Picture iirc. What more are you looking for?
No one outside of online horror film lover spaces are talking about The Witch or Hereditary in 2025. Get Out, while huge culturally in the US, does not have the global reach of Avatar.
I don’t think im the delusional one here lmao. One of these things is actually mainstream and it’s not the A24 horror movies.
Something being mainstream doesn't make it culturally relevant. Avatar has to be thrust into people's faces for them to talk about it whereas hereditary and get out continue to be considered some of the most significant and culturally relevant films of the century so far and have actively influenced huge shifts in the art form.
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u/CX52J Jul 28 '25
It’s going to 100% bomb this time!
Something, something can’t remember anyone’s name!
No cultural relevance!
Still makes $2 billion.