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Avatar: The Way of Water poster
8.0
20th Century Studios Acclaimed

Avatar: The Way of Water

Avatar · Avatar Collection

2022 192 min PG-13
Critic8.0
Sci-Fi Action Adventure Fantasy
Disney+ Apple TV
Trailer Where to Watch

Overview

More than a decade after the first film, Jake Sully and Neytiri's family are forced to leave their home and seek refuge with the aquatic Metkayina clan when a familiar human threat returns to Pandora.
Story 7.0
Acting 7.5
Direction 8.5
Cinematography 9.5
Music 8.0
Pacing 6.8
Originality 7.2
Emotional Impact 7.8
Overall 8.0

Editorial Review

By FindEdition Cinema Desk

8.0 /10

Visual landmark

The underwater sequences and rendering of Pandora set a new bar for visual-effects filmmaking.

Family at the center

The story shifts to the Sully children, grounding the spectacle in a family-under-threat drama.

Pros

  • Groundbreaking visual effects
  • Breathtaking underwater world
  • Immersive 3D/IMAX experience
  • Emotional family stakes

Cons

  • Very long runtime
  • Familiar, simple story
  • Pacing dips in the middle
Verdict A staggering technical achievement. James Cameron's oceanic Pandora is jaw-droppingly beautiful and the underwater spectacle is unmatched — even if the long runtime and familiar story beats test patience.

AI Review

James Cameron's visually staggering Avatar sequel — an oceanic Pandora epic and the third-highest-grossing film ever.

A staggering technical achievement. James Cameron's oceanic Pandora is jaw-droppingly beautiful and the underwater spectacle is unmatched — even if the long runtime and familiar story beats test patience.

See it in premium 3D or IMAX if possible; the visuals are the whole point.

Awards

Academy Awards

Best Visual Effects · Won

Academy Awards

Best Picture · Nominated

Academy Awards

Best Production Design · Nominated

Academy Awards

Best Sound · Nominated

Timeline

Release Date
Theatrical Date
Digital Date
Physical Date
Premiere
Status
Development

Cameron announced sequels in 2010 after the success of Avatar; scripts for multiple films were developed together.

Principal photography

Performance capture began in 2017, with extensive underwater capture work; live-action photography followed in New Zealand.

Release

Premiered in London on December 6, 2022 and released in the US on December 16, 2022 after years of delays.

Academy Awards

Best Visual Effects Won

Academy Awards

Best Picture Nominated

Academy Awards

Best Production Design Nominated

Academy Awards

Best Sound Nominated

Production

Development

Cameron announced sequels in 2010 after the success of Avatar; scripts for multiple films were developed together.

Principal photography

Performance capture began in 2017, with extensive underwater capture work; live-action photography followed in New Zealand.

Release

Premiered in London on December 6, 2022 and released in the US on December 16, 2022 after years of delays.

Streaming

Disney+ Apple TV

Cast

Sam Worthington Jake Sully
Zoe Saldaña Neytiri
Sigourney Weaver Kiri
Stephen Lang Colonel Miles Quaritch
Kate Winslet Ronal
Cliff Curtis Tonowari
Joel David Moore Norm Spellman
CCH Pounder Mo'at
Jamie Flatters Neteyam
Britain Dalton Lo'ak
Trinity Jo-Li Bliss Tuktirey
Jack Champion Spider

Characters

Jake Sully Sam Worthington
Neytiri Zoe Saldaña
Kiri Sigourney Weaver
Colonel Miles Quaritch Stephen Lang
Ronal Kate Winslet
Tonowari Cliff Curtis
Norm Spellman Joel David Moore
Mo'at CCH Pounder
Neteyam Jamie Flatters
Lo'ak Britain Dalton
Tuktirey Trinity Jo-Li Bliss
Spider Jack Champion

Crew

James Cameron Director
James Cameron Writer
Rick Jaffa Writer
Amanda Silver Writer
Simon Franglen Composer
Russell Carpenter Cinematographer
Stephen E. Rivkin Editor
David Brenner Editor
James Cameron Producer
Jon Landau Producer

Videos

Official Trailer

Soundtrack

  1. The Way of Water (score) — Simon Franglen
  2. Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength) — The Weeknd

Trivia

  • The third-highest-grossing film of all time and the highest-grossing film of 2022.
  • Director James Cameron became the first filmmaker with three films grossing over $2 billion worldwide.
  • The production pioneered new underwater performance-capture techniques; cast members trained in free-diving.
  • Runs 3 hours and 12 minutes, one of the longest major studio blockbusters.
  • Received a theatrical re-release in October 2025 ahead of Avatar: Fire and Ash.

Quotes

"The way of water connects all things."

"This family is our fortress."

Goofs

  • Water surface reflections occasionally fail to include nearby characters in a few complex composite shots.

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Collections

Part of Avatar Collection

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Universe

Avatar

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Franchise

Avatar

Second film in James Cameron's planned five-film Avatar saga, between Avatar (2009) and Fire and Ash (2025).

Browse franchise →

Recommendations & Alternatives

For higher ratings, consider Barbarian (8.1/10). A similarly themed alternative is Kung Fu Panda 2.

Higher Rated

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AI Recommendation Insight

James Cameron's visually staggering Avatar sequel — an oceanic Pandora epic and the third-highest-grossing film ever. Similar picks: Same Franchise, Shared Cast

Avatar: The Way of Water