Though James Cameron continues to dominate the box office with Avatar: Fire and Ash, his directorial follow-up is now facing a release date shake-up with Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft‘s new delay.
On January 26, James Cameron posted to his Instagram that the upcoming concert documentary Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft – The Tour (Live in 3D) will now be released on Friday, May 8, 2026. The film, which Cameron is co-directing with Eilish, was originally set to be released by Paramount on March 20.
According to Cameron, the reason for the two-month release delay comes down to “refining the cut,” enhancing new 3D tech for the film, and adding in behind-the-scenes footage. More specific details on what the concert film will entail have been limited, though it’s been revealed the movie was filmed at Eilish’s July 2025 shows in Manchester for her successful “Hit Me Hard and Soft” tour.
Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft – The Tour (Live in 3D) marks Cameron’s first directed film after Disney’s Avatar: Fire and Ash, which debuted in theaters on December 19. To date, Avatar 3 has already amassed an astounding $1.379 billion haul at the worldwide box office, and has continued to hold onto the number one or two spot in theaters since its premiere.
After his Billie Eilish concert film hits theaters in May, it’s still unclear whether he’ll return to direct Disney’s Avatar 4 and 5, which are currently planned to release in December 2029 and December 2031, respectively.
The new Billie Eilish film now marks the first major non-Avatar movie that Cameron has directed in over 20 years; the last being his 2005 documentary Aliens of the Deep. Cameron’s other directed documentary features include 2005’s Last Mysteries of the Titanic, 2003’s Ghosts of the Abyss, and 2002’s Expedition: Bismarck.
By pushing back the release to May 8, 2026, Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft – The Tour (Live in 3D) now faces a stacked theatrical release slate ahead of summer blockbuster season kicking into full swing. The film’s launch is preceded by The Devil Wears Prada 2 and Animal Farm on May 1, coincides with Mortal Kombat II on May 8, and is followed by The Mandalorian and Grogu‘s release on May 22.
The film setting a highly anticipated theatrical release this year also follows in the footsteps of recent box office-crushing concert movies from two of the world’s most popular artists. Taylor Swift and Beyoncé went head-to-head with their successful concert films Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour and Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé both launching in October and November 2023, respectively. The Eras Tour film earned over $261 million at the box office, while Renaissance pulled in $44 million worldwide.
With an additional two months to prepare for its theatrical debut, more teases and insights into Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft – The Tour (Live in 3D)‘s filmmaking process can be expected from James Cameron and Billie Eilish before May 8 arrives.