Avatar: The Way of Water splashes down into theaters this December, but before we get to experience James Cameron's highly anticipated sequel, Avatar returns to the big screen next month.
The Academy Award-winning 2009 epic adventure is the most successful movie of all time, and arrives in theaters on September 23 in stunning 4K High Dynamic Range. Now, 20th Century Studios and Disney have shared some new stills from the re-release, showcasing the improved visuals we can expect from this remastered version of the record-breaking blockbuster.
This follows a trailer that was released earlier this week, and that confirmed this movie won't feature dated visuals unable to hold up under scrutiny. When Avatar was released, the special effects were groundbreaking. However, a lot of time has passed since 2009, so it makes sense to ensure this movie looks as great as possible before it returns to theaters.
Avengers: Endgame briefly took Avatar's crown as the highest-grossing movie of all time, but a re-release during the pandemic saw it retake the #1 spot. Needless to say, the sci-fi epic coming back to multiplexes is only going to increase its lead and it's hard to imagine even a movie like 2025's Avengers: Secret Wars being able to knock the movie from its throne.
Will Avatar: The Way of Water break box office records? That's very hard to say, especially as it's too soon to say whether there's still that much interest in the franchise. Reviews and the 3D effects could be key in attracting moviegoers back, though.
Written and directed by Cameron, Avatar stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, and Sigourney Weaver.
The film was produced by James Cameron and Jon Landau, and ended up being nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. Ultimately, Avatar won three Oscars for Best Cinematography, Production Design, and Visual Effects.
Check out this gallery of Avatar stills below: