Avatar: Fire and Ash, the latest installment in Hollywood legend James Cameron's iconic franchise, opened in domestic theaters today, simultaneously with its North American release.

The first Avatar film was released in 2010, when there were only 14 IMAX theaters in China — considered the ideal facility for full immersion into Pandora's breathtaking alien landscapes.

Now, following the unprecedented expansion of China's film industry — evidenced by the country's rise to become the world's second-largest movie market since 2012 — the number of IMAX theaters on the Chinese mainland has grown to nearly 800, more than in any other country.

During a preview screening held by IMAX on Thursday night, Cameron said, in a video message, "Avatar is the right story, and IMAX is the right canvas. They are made for each other. IMAX has always been an important part of Avatar, and I believe the reverse is also true — Avatar has been an important part of IMAX."

Cameron, one of the world's most influential filmmakers, said that he makes movies to be seen on the big screen in the best possible way. He thanked fans for their faith in him and his team to deliver the spectacle and wonder they seek.

"In these days of streaming and with all the distractions of life, when we give ourselves permission to go and just engage on an unbroken, three-hour-long experience, we lose track of time, we lose track of the fact that these people don't really exist. That's the spell I want to cast," he added.