Oscar-winning filmmaker James Cameron says he left the United States to start a new life in New Zealand in search of what he calls “sanity,” citing America’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its broader political climate as reasons for his departure.
Cameron made the comments during a recent appearance on In Depth with Graham Bensinger, where he spoke candidly about relocating to New Zealand, where he now lives and has spent years working on the Avatar film franchise. According to Variety, the director praised New Zealand’s pandemic response while criticizing the United States.
“After the pandemic hit… [New Zealand] had eliminated the virus completely,” Cameron said. “They actually eliminated the virus twice. The third time when it showed up in a mutated form, it broke through. But fortunately, they already had a 98% vaccination rate. This is why I love New Zealand.”
Cameron contrasted that approach with the United States, saying Americans had failed to follow what he described as “basic scientific guidance.”
“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,” he said. “Are you kidding me? Where would you rather live?”
The Avatar director went on to praise New Zealanders for complying with government mandates during the pandemic, framing obedience as a civic virtue.
“A place that actually believes in science and is sane and where people can work together cohesively to a common goal,” Cameron said, “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.”
Cameron’s remarks glossed over criticism of New Zealand’s COVID response, which included some of the strictest lockdowns in the world under then–Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. As previously reported, the country entered snap nationwide lockdowns over minimal case counts and ultimately experienced significant surges in infections and deaths despite its harsh measures.
During the interview, Bensinger suggested that the United States remains “a fantastic place to live,” a claim Cameron openly questioned.
“Is it?” Cameron replied.
While Bensinger pointed to New Zealand’s natural beauty, Cameron insisted scenery was not the motivation behind his move.
“I’m not there for scenery,” Cameron said. “I’m there for the sanity.”
He also tied his decision to political fatigue, saying he feels safer and more at ease living outside the United States under President Donald Trump.
“I certainly feel like I don’t have to read about [Trump] on the front page every single day. And it’s just sickening,” Cameron said. “There’s something nice about the New Zealand outlets — at least they’ll put it on page three.”
“I just don’t want to see that guy’s face any more on the front page of the paper,” he added. “It’s inescapable there, it’s like watching a car crash over and over and over.”
Cameron has previously lashed out at Trump. In December, he criticized the president for rejecting climate change alarmism, calling Trump a “narcissistic a**hole” in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. Cameron claimed Trump’s policies were sending humanity “backwards.”
“I’m frustrated because the human race seems to be delusional about what they think is going to happen next,” Cameron said at the time. “We are going backwards.”
The director’s latest comments reinforce his long-running criticism of American politics and culture, even as his blockbuster films continue to rely heavily on U.S. audiences and studios for their success.
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Good riddance to bad rubbish. Don’t come back; we don’t want you; you’re a disgusting, evil hypocrite.
This poor deluded individual is chasing en ever diminishing group of people clinging to their delusions, continuing to slavishly follow their would-be leaders, who themselves are lost in the the myths of their own creating.
This Is wonderful news. Hopefully this Cameron fellow has enough Influence to sway a couple hundred more just like him to vacate the USA. Permanently. Thank you Seijah for the report. Yes, NZ was one of the better nations health wise 2020-21, until the forced lockdowns then they became a hotspot for supposedly “Covid deaths”. As well as they’re neighboring Australia, there where violent clashes between people and they’re government attempting to force compliance.
I ‘am guessing obviously but I bet he still has has home(s) here….just in case..