When Does It Start Streaming?

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• “Avatar: The Way of Water” premiered exclusively in theaters in December 2022.
• The Oscar-nominated sequel continues the story of Pandora over a decade after the original film.
• You can buy a digital copy of the movie to stream at home starting March 28.

James Cameron’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” premiered in theaters on December 16, 2022. The long-awaited sequel revives the franchise 13 years after the first “Avatar” became the highest-grossing film of all time. Though the movie is still exclusive to theaters, it will be available to buy from digital retailers like Amazon and Vudu on March 28.

“Avatar: The Way of Water” picks up over a decade after the events of “Avatar,” following Jake and Neytiri as they raise their children on Pandora. When the Sully family is forced to leave their home and explore new regions of the planet, an ancient threat resurfaces and Jake must once again gear up to fight the humans.

Check out the trailer for ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’

Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana reprise their roles from “Avatar” as Jake Sully and Neytiri, respectively. Sigourney Weaver also returns from the first film, but this time she is playing a new character named Kiri. Other new roles in “Avatar 2” include Kate Winslet as the free diver Ronal, Cliff Curtis as Ronal’s husband Tonowari, and Britain Dalton as Jake and Neytiri’s second son Lo’ak.

Like the original movie, “Avatar: The Way of Water” is directed by James Cameron (“Titanic”). The movie has already been nominated for two Golden Globe awards, including best picture (drama) and best director.

How to watch ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’

“Avatar: The Way of Water” is currently only available to watch in theaters, so you can’t purchase or stream the movie at home just yet. The film made its big-screen debut on December 16, 2022.

In addition to standard showings, the movie is also playing in theaters in various premium formats, like IMAX and Dolby Cinema with 3D, 4K, and HFR presentations at higher prices.

You can buy tickets to see “Avatar: The Way of Water” at local or national theater chains like AMC, Regal, and Cinemark via Fandango.

When will ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ be available to watch at home?

You can watch “Avatar: The Way of Water” at home starting March 28. The movie will be available to buy from streaming retailers like Amazon, Vudu, and Apple TV on that date.

An exact price has not been announced yet, but new releases typically cost $20-$30. Once you buy a digital copy of a film, you can stream it whenever you like with no restrictions. It’s not yet clear if a cheaper rental option will also be available on March 28.

When will ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ be available on Disney Plus?

An official subscription streaming release date for “Avatar: The Way of Water” has not been announced yet. But since the movie is produced by Disney’s 20th Century Studios, the sci-fi epic is expected to eventually land on Disney Plus and/or Hulu.

It’s also possible that the movie could end up on HBO Max at the same time it hits Disney Plus. HBO has an existing deal with 20th Century Studios that grants it streaming rights to some movies. However, it’s unclear if “Avatar: The Way of Water” is included in this agreement.

While some of Disney’s recent releases landed on Disney Plus as soon as 45 days after their theatrical premieres, “Avatar: The Way of Water” will take longer to hit streaming. The movie is the biggest box office hit of the year, so Disney will likely want to keep it running in theaters and PVOD (premium video-on-demand) for an extended period of time.

Will there be more ‘Avatar’ sequels?

Disney already has three more “Avatar” sequels in development and scheduled on its upcoming release slate. 

Although it took 13 years for the first “Avatar” sequel to arrive, rest assured that the additional sequels will be released in a timelier manner. “Avatar 3” is set for December 2024, “Avatar 4” for December 2026, and “Avatar 5” for December 2028.

Depending on the box office and critical successes of the next several “Avatar” sequels, James Cameron could decide to expand the franchise even more.

Is ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ worth watching?

Critical reactions to “Avatar: The Way of Water” indicate that it’s well worth a watch. As of March 8, “Avatar: The Way of Water” holds a “76% Certified Fresh” score on the review-aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes. The movie is also nominated for best picture at the 2023 Oscars.

While the film’s story is basic, the striking visuals make it an immersive experience tailored especially for theatrical viewings. The sequel repeats one of the biggest draws of the first “Avatar” movie in terms of being a groundbreaking visual spectacle.

For those who enjoy James Cameron’s direction, sci-fi epics, and visually immersive film experiences, “Avatar: The Way of Water” should be worth a trip to the theater.

Where can I watch the first ‘Avatar’ movie?

Though Disney briefly removed “Avatar” from its streaming service during the 2009 movie’s limited theatrical re-release in September 2022, the first “Avatar” is now back on Disney Plus for all subscribers to stream.

If you don’t have a subscription to Disney Plus, you can rent ($4) or buy ($15) the first “Avatar” movie from digital retailers like Amazon and Vudu.