James Cameron is no stranger to epic world-building, but when it comes to real life, the Oscar-winning filmmaker has clearly decided that the United States just isn’t the place for his sequel.
In a candid sit-down with Graham Bensinger on “In Depth,” the Avatar director didn’t hold back about why he’s traded Hollywood for Hobbit country — and it wasn’t just for the rolling hills or crystal-clear lakes of New Zealand.
“After the pandemic hit… they had eliminated the virus completely,” Cameron said, pointing out that New Zealand didn’t just do it once, but twice.
The third wave only got through when a mutated form arrived, but by then, the country had a stunning 98% vaccination rate. That’s when Cameron dropped the mic: “This is why I love New Zealand. People there are, for the most part, sane — as opposed to the United States.”
Oof. Not exactly subtle, but that’s the Cameron we know — sharp, data-driven, and brutally honest. And he didn’t stop there. “Are you kidding me? Where would you rather live?” he asked. “A place that actually believes in science and is sane… or a place where everybody’s at each other’s throats?”
Bensinger tried to soften the moment by suggesting the U.S. is still “a fantastic place to live.” Cameron’s response? “Is it?”
James Cameron: “This is why I love New Zealand. 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. Where would you rather live? A place that actually believes in science… pic.twitter.com/UFm12QtRbs
— Marco Foster (@MarcoFoster_) January 23, 2026
That’s not just Hollywood talking — Cameron has long had one foot out the door. A year earlier, he shared on “The F—ing News” podcast that New Zealand citizenship was “imminent.” He also took aim at what he sees as America’s moral free-fall under Trump, warning of a country that’s losing its soul: “It becomes a hollow idea,” he said.
And while others might gush about New Zealand’s scenery, Cameron made it clear he’s not there for the views. “I’m not there for scenery, I’m there for the sanity.” He talked about wanting his kids to grow up in a place where mutual respect matters and where the front page isn’t dominated daily by Trump drama. “It’s inescapable there,” he said of the U.S. news cycle, calling it “like watching a car crash over and over and over.”
Love him or hate him, Cameron’s not mincing words — and he’s made it clear that for him, sanity, science, and a sense of shared values are worth crossing oceans for.
