The Entire ‘Avatar’ Franchise Explained in 10 Interactive Infographics

Since the release of the original Avatar In 2009, James Cameron’s epic interstellar franchise conquered popular culture with the brute force of an RDA battalion invading a distant moon. It has grown from a single film to an omni-franchise: a $10 billion entertainment ecosphere that includes three feature films, two AAA video games, seven major comic book series, a Disney theme park and even a Cirque du Soleil show.

Given the films’ collective nine-hour length and 150-year internal timeline, following Pandora’s story can be tedious; Cameron’s world-building is notoriously obsessive, involving everything from a fully functioning alien language to scientifically plausible lunar botany. To make sense of it all, I boiled the Avatar the universe of up to 10 essential interactive infographics, covering the past, present and future of the franchise.

Biological differences between humans and Na’vi

The differences between human and Na’vi bodies go deeper than blue pigment. From their “biological Ethernet” system to their prehensile tails, the Na’vi are a master class in fictional biology. Every anatomical difference between humans and the Na’vi helps illustrate the evolutionary advantage they have over Pandora. This graphic illustrates how natives compare to us, the “sky people.” (Hover over the different sections for more information.)

Pandora’s Tribes

Pandora is a culturally diverse world, with hundreds of Na’vi tribes scattered throughout its many bioluminescent biomes. To bring these civilizations to life, James Cameron’s team drew heavily on Earth’s indigenous populations, blending aesthetic and cultural details from real-world civilizations with fantastical alien societies.

The Avatar timeline

From first contact in 2119 to the projected “next generation” in the late 2170s, this timeline traces key events in the 150-year struggle for control of Pandora.

The Science of Project Avatar

Project Avatar at the center of the franchise is a cutting-edge program that uses genetically engineered Na’vi/human hybrids that allow humans to operate safely in the hostile environment of Pandora. On the surface, it’s a science fiction way of explaining the logistics of exploring an alien world, but on a deeper thematic level, Project Avatar is about people spending billions of dollars on advanced technology so they can experience the world like the Na’vi do for free. (Avatar is deeper than you think!) Here’s how Project Avatar works.

Avatarthe most memorable vehicles and weapons of

Avatar‘s biggest “message” might be about how much better our lives would be if we spent all day touching grass instead of technology, but the films’ ships and weapons are so meticulously designed and so badass that it’s clear their creators are absolutely love technology.

Where is Pandora located in the galaxy?

AvatarThe alien planet of is a real place. Type of. In the films, it is located in Alpha Centauri. Our actual analyzes of this neighboring solar system have not identified a gas giant with a habitable moon like Polyphemus in the movies, but we to have found planets in the “habitable zone” of Alpha Centauri, the region where temperatures allow liquid water and, in theory, life to exist. So there really could be gigantic cat-like aliens living out there; you never know.

The language of Avatar

The Na’vi language is not just cinematic gibberish. James Cameron hired linguistics professor Paul Frommer to develop a speaking language with its own grammar, syntax, and vocabulary of more than 2,500 words. Here’s an introduction to Pandora’s linguistic DNA.

The expanded Avatar universe

If over nine hours of Avatar movies aren’t enough for you, there are enough games, comics, and theme park attractions to immerse you in the Avatar story. Below is a summary of all official franchise ancillary documents.

AvatarThe box office returns, in context

The natives don’t need money on Pandora, but it’s pretty important here on Earth, so let’s look Avatar‘s box office returns, which are significant: In terms of total dollars earned, the franchise includes two of the three highest-grossing films of all time. Adjusted for inflation, Avatar is preceded by Gone with the Windbut second place is pretty good when it comes with a $4 billion consolation prize.

The future of Avatar

I’m no psychic, but I’d bet there are more Na’vi adventures to come. (At least two other films are currently in the works.) Here’s what we know about the group’s future films. Avatar universe.