Avatar: The Way of Water
Sequel to Avatar, set on Pandora's oceans.
James Cameron directed and co-wrote this 2022 epic science fiction film, the second chapter in the Avatar series and a direct follow-up to the 2009 original. The story centers on Jake Sully, a hybrid of human and Na'vi, who moves his family across Pandora to escape the RDA and find safety among the ocean-dwelling Metkayina clan. Returning actors include Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, and Stephen Lang, with Sigourney Weaver taking on a new role and Kate Winslet joining the cast.
Plans for two sequels were announced after the first film's success, with an initial target of 2014. Adding two more sequels—bringing the total to five—and the need to create new underwater motion-capture technology pushed the schedule back significantly. Filming for both this movie and the third installment, *Avatar: Fire and Ash*, began on August 15, 2017, in Manhattan Beach, California, then moved to Wellington, New Zealand the next month. Production wrapped three years later, in September 2020. With an estimated budget between $350 and $460 million, it ranks among the most expensive films ever made. Cameron's company Lightstorm Entertainment produced it.
After several release delays, the film premiered on December 6, 2022, at the Odeon Leicester Square in London, and hit U.S. theaters on December 16 via 20th Century Studios. Critics generally responded positively, praising the visual effects and technical feats while noting the long runtime. It performed exceptionally well at the box office, setting multiple records and earning $2.334 billion worldwide—the highest gross of 2022 and the third-highest ever at that time. The National Board of Review and the American Film Institute both listed it among the top ten films of 2022. It received four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and won for Best Visual Effects. The sequel, *Avatar: Fire and Ash*, came out in December 2025.
**Plot**
Sixteen years after the Na'vi drove the RDA off Pandora, Jake Sully leads the Omatikaya clan. He lives with his wife Neytiri and their children: sons Neteyam and Lo'ak, daughter Tuktirey ("Tuk"), and adopted daughter Kiri, who was born from Dr. Grace Augustine's inactive avatar. Miles "Spider" Socorro, the son of the late Colonel Miles Quaritch, often plays with the Sully kids and is raised by human scientists who remained on Pandora.
Quick Facts
- Director
- James Cameron
- Screenplay
- James Cameron / Rick Jaffa / Amanda Silver
- Story
- James Cameron / Rick Jaffa / Amanda Silver / Josh Friedman / Shane Salerno
- Producer
- James Cameron / Jon Landau
- Starring
- Sam Worthington / Zoe Saldaña / Sigourney Weaver / Stephen Lang / Kate Winslet
- Cinematography
- Russell Carpenter
- Editing
- Stephen E. RivkinCredited as Stephen Rivkin / David Brenner / John Refoua / James Cameron
- Studio
- Lightstorm Entertainment
- Distributor
- 20th Century Studios
- Released
- 6 December 2022 · Odeon Luxe Leicester Square · 2022 · 12 · 16 · United States
- Runtime
- 192 minutes
- Country
- United States
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Following the success of Avatar in 2009, two sequels were announced, with the first aiming for a 2014 release. However, the addition of two more sequels—for a total of five films—and the need to develop new technology to film motion-capture scenes underwater, led to significant delays. The filming process, which occurred simultaneously with the third film in the franchise, Avatar: Fire and Ash, began in Manhattan Beach, California, on August 15, 2017. Production moved to Wellington, New Zealand the following month, and was completed three years later, in September 2020. With an estimated budget of $350–460 million, Avatar: The Way of Water is one of the most expensive films ever made. It was produced by Cameron's company Lightstorm Entertainment.
The plot follows Jake Sully and his family—including his wife Neytiri, their children Neteyam, Lo'ak, Tuktirey, and adopted daughter Kiri—as they relocate to Pandora's eastern sea and seek asylum with the aquatic Metkayina clan. The RDA returns to colonize Pandora, using recombinants (Na'vi avatars implanted with memories of dead human soldiers), including a recombinant of Colonel Miles Quaritch. The Sully family assimilates into the Metkayina, learning their ways, while Lo'ak befriends a Tulkun named Payakan. The film culminates in a battle between the Metkayina and Quaritch's forces, resulting in the death of Neteyam.
Reader's Guide
Avatar: The Way of Water is notable as a major box office success, breaking multiple records and grossing $2.334 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 2022 and the third-highest-grossing film at the time of its release. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the visual effects and technical achievements but criticized the runtime. It was named one of the top-ten films of 2022 by The National Board of Review and the American Film Institute. The film was nominated for four awards at the 95th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won for Best Visual Effects. Its production involved significant technological development for underwater motion-capture scenes, contributing to its status as one of the most expensive films ever made. The sequel, Avatar: Fire and Ash, was released in December 2025.
Did You Know?
- The film's budget is estimated at $350–460 million, making it one of the most expensive films ever made.
- Filming began on August 15, 2017, in Manhattan Beach, California, and was completed in September 2020.
- Sigourney Weaver returns in an additional role as Kiri, Jake and Neytiri's adopted daughter born from Dr. Grace Augustine's inert Na'vi avatar.
- The film won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects at the 95th Academy Awards.
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