Main image for the briefing: An Oscar for Avatar? You can't be serious!

An Oscar for Avatar? You can't be serious!

James Cameron’s Avatar is the biggest financial success in the history of cinema. Six weeks after it was first released, the sci-fi epic has taken almost $1.9bn in box-office revenue worldwide, more than any other film.

But although no one can argue with the money Avatar has made, a surprising range of critics – from film buffs and anti-smoking advocates to social and political conservatives, the Vatican and China – have all condemned the decisions by award bodies to laud the film. Avatar has already won two Golden Globes, for Best Motion Picture and Best Director. Now, with nine Oscar nominations, including best picture and best director, Avatar is also widely tipped to clean up at the Academy Awards. Should it?

Share this debate

  • E-mail this story to a friend!
  • Facebook
  • TwitThis
  • Technorati
  • Reddit
  • del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • RSS
  • Digg
  • NewsVine
  • Google
  • LinkedIn

Season tickets

Season tickets are £100 each and include one ticket and a glass of wine for all five debates in our autumn 2010 series

Buy tickets

Vegetarian debate

Buy tickets for 'Don't eat animals' on December 9, featuring Peter Singer, Heather Mills, Paul Levy and Julian Baggini

Buy tickets

What's new on IQ²

See all of the latest IQ² content on one page, including written debates, live debates, and talks from our partners

See what's new

Elizabeth Gilbert

Elizabeth, author of the best-selling Eat, Pray, Love, will talk about her life and writing at this exclusive IQ² event on September 15

Buy tickets

IQ² Magazine

This week, The Magazine brings you both sides of the story on the legalisation of cocaine, plus debates on philanthrocapitalism and Iran

See the magazine



Copyright 2010 Intelligence 2 Ltd | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | User Guidelines | Goodies