Cameron: 'Avatar expectations help me'

James Cameron has admitted that he feels under pressure from fans.

The director told MTV News that he knows audiences have "high expectations" for his latest film Avatar.

He explained: "I think there is obviously a lot of expectation whenever a filmmaker that people know - through films like Titanic or Aliens or Terminator or whatever - there's always an expectation.

"There's a lot of expectation around this film, and I guess I knew that would happen unless I made a romantic comedy or something."

However, Cameron insisted that he enjoys the pressure to make a good film.

"I think it makes you a better filmmaker when you know you've got a lot of fans to please and that their expectations are high," he said. "So you try pretty hard and you get the best people in the movie."

He also claimed that he isn't expecting Avatar to be as successful as Titanic.

"I don't think it's realistic to try to topple Titanic off its perch," he said. "Some pretty good movies have come out in the last few years, and Titanic just struck some sort of chord. Obviously, we're hoping that Avatar is successful at some level."

Avatar will be released in cinemas worldwide on December 17.