Lauded for his transcendent storytelling and masterful use of cutting-edge technology, James Cameron is one of cinema’s most distinguished directors. In 2009, he further transformed the silver screen with Avatar. Set in the lush, Earth-like moon known as Pandora, the film follows paraplegic former Marine Jake Sully as he is dispatched to the planet on a colonizing mission, only to find his loyalties tested when he develops a bond with the blue-skinned humanoids known as the Na’vi.
Avatar went on to shatter box office records. It became the highest-grossing movie of all time, earning over $2.9 billion while garnering critical acclaim for its groundbreaking visual effects and imaginative world-building. Its unprecedented performance helped successfully launch a franchise. It led to the 2022 sequel Avatar: The Way of Water, which reunited audiences with Sully, his mate Neytiri, and their family as they team up with the Metkayina clan to protect their beloved planet. You can now revisit the wonder of the stunning film once again, as it is now in theaters for an official re-release.
‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ Transports Audiences Back to Pandora
Groundbreaking Technology Was Used To Create the Film
Living up to a film as revered and revolutionary as the sci-fi spectacle Avatar is no easy task. Yet, James Cameron was ready to dazzle audiences once more with the long-awaited follow-up, Avatar: The Way of Water. Released 13 years after its trailblazing predecessor, the sequel once again features the talents of Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, and Sigourney Weaver, as well as the addition of Hollywood staple Kate Winslet. It brilliantly transports moviegoers back to the stunning world of Pandora, where Jake Sully now serves as the chief of the Omatikay alongside his family.
Having fallen in love with Neytiri (Saldaña) and developed a profound kinship with the Na’vi tribe, Jake now enjoys his life and family in Pandora, following his role in helping repel the Resources Development Administration (RDA) from the planet. When the RDA and the vengeance-seeking Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) return to once again try to colonize Pandora, Jake, Neytiri, and their fellow blue-skinned humanoids form a guerrilla warfare campaign and turn to the aquatic Metkayina clan to help fight back against their oppressors.
Avatar: The Way of Water serves as the second installment in the groundbreaking franchise, which will consist of five total films. The third installment, Avatar: Fire and Ash, is slated to premiere on December 19, 2025. Cameron has said that the original blockbuster was about the “awe and wonder” of Pandora, while The Way of Water focused more on the characters and the importance of family. The director told The Hollywood Reporter: “The overarching idea is, the family is the fortress. It’s our greatest weakness and our greatest strength.” Cameron further discussed what he hoped to achieve with the sci-fi franchise and what was in store for fans:
“I want to tell an epic story over a number of films. Let’s paint on a bigger canvas. Let’s plan it that way. Let’s do The Lord of the Rings. Of course, they had the books. I had to write the book first, which isn’t a book, it’s a script.”
Cameron Makes Movie Magic Once Again With ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’
Avatar: The Way of Water managed to achieve what few Hollywood sequels rarely do: it replicated the magic, wonder, and complexity of the original 2009 hit. When the highly anticipated sequel debuted on December 16, 2022, many were left wondering if it could achieve the same level of global success as its predecessor, and it more than delivered on all fronts. The sci-fi spectacle went on to earn $2.320 billion and became the highest-grossing release of the year, as well as the third-highest of all time. This achievement marked Cameron’s third movie to join the illustrious list, alongside Avatar and Titanic, the latter of which currently holds the fourth spot with $2.264 billion.
The Way of Water also garnered overwhelming praise for its stunning visual effects and technical achievements, with Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times declaring that it has “some of the most dazzling, vibrant, and gorgeous images ever seen on screen.” Audiences were in agreement, awarding the sequel an “A” CinemaScore and a 92% Popcornmeter rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, they also acknowledged that the film’s simple storyline paled in comparison to its spellbinding cinematography. Its emotional depth, breathtaking underwater scenes, and the focus on Sully’s family and his fierce devotion to protect them helped tug on the heartstrings of audiences all around the world.
The sci-fi film was named one of the top 10 movies of 2022 by both the American Film Institute and the National Board of Review. It was nominated for four Academy Awards and ultimately took home the statuette for Best Visual Effects. Cameron shot The Way of Water simultaneously with Avatar: Fire and Ash, a decision that moviegoers should be thrilled about, as it means the sequel will be making its way to theaters on December 19, 2025. In the meantime, you can revisit Avatar: The Way of Water (and catch a Fire and Ash sneak peek) in all its enchanting glory right now, as it has currently been re-released in theaters ahead of the franchise’s next groundbreaking installment.
- Release Date
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December 16, 2022
- Runtime
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192 minutes
- Producers
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Jon Landau
- Prequel(s)
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