This article contains spoilers for Avatar: The Way of Water.Avatar was the highest-grossing film of all time, which means there's a lot of pressure riding on James Cameron's sequels. These were described as the "jewel in the crown" of Disney's Fox acquisition back in 2019, with the House of Mouse hoping the World of Pandora theme parks could potentially become a rival for Harry Potter's Wizarding World parks.
Box office takings for Avatar: The Way of Water are promising. It's tracking to deliver the year's biggest opening weekend, setting the sequel up to be 2022's biggest box office success. The film has received positive responses from audiences and critics alike, surely meaning there'll be positive word-of-mouth to boost its performance. And yet, for all that's the case, Avatar: The Way of Water isn't quite what people were expecting - although it sets up a threequel that will live up to that promise.
Why There's So Much Hype Around Avatar: The Way Of Water
James Cameron is one of the best filmmakers in the business, the mastermind behind iconic movies ranging from Titanic to The Terminator. He's particularly notable for a pronounced visual style, one that works best on the big screen and has proved a draw to audiences for decades. The first Avatar had a massive impact on the film industry itself, largely because of the remarkable technological innovations Cameron made during its production. CGI-heavy movies notoriously age poorly, but that isn't the case with Avatar, which remains beautiful and immersive to this day. This accomplishment is all the more impressive given Avatar's success led to a surge in films using 3D technology, and yet few managed to pull it off as effectively. It's exciting to see Cameron continue to develop this technology.
The cultural impact of Avatar tends to be underestimated. This is probably because the script is fairly derivative, and yet oddly enough that may well be a key part of its success; Cameron specializes in dealing with archetypes, and he uses them so confidently and authentically that they appeal nonetheless. And yet, Avatar has earned more money than any other movie in history, simply because audiences keep turning up - including for re-releases. Disney has wisely ignored the critical discourse, recognizing that people loved Avatar, keep turning up to watch it, and will indeed want to watch sequels. Smart promotion has served to remind viewers of everything they loved about the first film, while the focus on underwater environments assured Avatar: The Way of Water wouldn't just be seen as more of the same.
Avatar: The Way Of Water Isn't The Big Movie We Thought It'd Be
Avatar: The Way of Water picks up pretty much where the first film left off, with the Sky People returning and Pandora once again threatened. The stakes are higher, because this time the Sky People aren't seeking Pandora's unobtanium; they're planning to terraform the entire planet. Surprisingly, Avatar: The Way of Water skims past the Na'vi insurgency against Pandora's occupiers, focusing instead on a personal vendetta that forces Jake Sully and his family to flee to the Metkayina tribe. This is smart writing on Cameron's part, because it allows him to employ the same familiar story beats in a new context - themes of exploration and wonder, as Jake and his Omaticaya family learn to thrive in a completely different Pandoran environment. But it's a much more intimate story than anyone expected.
The change in scale is best demonstrated in the third act. The end of Avatar: The Way of Water is just another small skirmish, a clash between one tribe and a small group of Sky People, rather than a decisive one. This event is only significant because it stirs Jake Sully back into action, making him realize the Sky People need to be fought. It is the call to adventure, not the adventure itself, and that's not really what many viewers expected.
Why Avatar 3 Will Be The Massive Movie People Want
James Cameron knows what people are expecting. The decision to tell a more intimate tale is entirely understandable, and in truth was probably a wise one; but he's well aware audiences are looking forward to a much more spectacular conflict. That story will inevitably be told in Avatar 3, with Jake Sully once again leading the Na'vi against the Sky People.
This time, the humans have come in force, and they have no intention of leaving; Earth is dying, and they want to claim Pandora as their new home. They have named their new base of operations "Bridgehead City;" a bridgehead is a strong position secured inside enemy territory from which to advance or attack. They're likely beginning a terraforming project, because the humans will surely want to change Pandora's atmosphere. The Na'vi will soon find themselves battling to survive. This should give Cameron ample opportunity to showcase more of his technological innovations.
How Avatar 4 & 5 Can Be Even Bigger
Cameron is a smart writer. He's effectively used Avatar: The Way of Water to relaunch the franchise, deliberately reducing the scale so he can build it up again over the course of the franchise. As producer Jon Landau recently noted, Cameron wants each Avatar film to raise the bar in every way - including in scale. Avatar: The Way of Water will inevitably be exceeded by Avatar 3, and that in turn will be exceeded by Avatar 4 and Avatar 5. There have even been consistent rumors the franchise will eventually leave Pandora and head to Earth, turning the narrative on its head.
Still, audiences would be wise to learn an important lesson from Avatar: The Way of Water; namely, that Cameron will maintain a focus on the characters (or, perhaps, archetypes) that lie at the heart of his story. Lo’ak, for example, has bonded with a rogue tulkun, beginning an arc that promises to transform him into a unique figure on Pandora - a role he will play because of his comion, not because of his warrior instincts. Kiri is a Messianic figure - perhaps hinting at an arc in which the Na'vi triumph by building bridges, not by waging war. The conflict in Avatar 3 will be important and spectacular, to be sure, but Avatar: The Way of Water hints it may well not be the emotional core.
