James Cameron's Avatar series has a surprising connection to what is widely considered the oldest science fiction film, Georges Méliès' A Trip to the Moon (Le Voyage dans la Lune). Released in 1902, A Trip to the Moon tells the story of a group of explorers who travel to the moon by means of a giant cannon (the Wright Brothers would not invent airplanes for another decade at the time of the film's release). In the film's most iconic shot, the explorers' capsule is shot directly into the Moon's eye. There, they battle a mass of aliens called Selenites, before capturing one and taking it back to Earth.

https://screenrant.com/oldest-science-fiction-movie-james-cameron-avatar-connection/