'Avatar' Sequel Reactions Storm Social Media—'Still Wiping Away Tears'

James Cameron's sequel Avatar: The Way of Water is proving to be a smash hit with viewers lucky enough to see it before its release on December 16, 2022.

Thirteen years after the release of the original Avatar movie, the likes of Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver and others return for another go. Kate Winslet, Edie Falco and Jemaine Clement also join the cast as new characters.

Premieres and preview screenings have allowed some people to see the movie before it comes out. Despite it being over a decade since the first movie, despite the runtime being three hours long, despite it being shot in 3D, the reactions to Avatar: The Way of Water have been overwhelmingly positive, according to early social media reactions.

"Avatar: The Way of Water blew me away," wrote Jake Hamilton, a movie interviewer known for his YouTube channel Jake's Takes. He admitted he didn't love the first one, but thinks James Cameron, the "GOD of sequels" upped his game for number 2. "Vastly superior in visuals, story telling and performances, the sequel left my jaw on the ground for the entire runtime," he wrote.

Correspondent for Entertainment Tonight, Ash Crossan agreed the sequel is "so stunning and immersive in ways I couldn't prepare for." She added: "I'm still wiping away tears. It's a masterpiece."

For many reviewers, the first Avatar movie was a visual spectacle but the story was lacking. This time around, many people highlighted the story as one of Avatar: The Way of Water's strongest aspects.

"Avatar: The Way of Water might be James Cameron's sweetest, gentlest, most personal film. Possibly even his most emotional," wrote Vulture writer Bilge Ebiri. "He is never leaving Pandora. He loves this family. By the end, I did, too."

While Cameron wrote the original on his own, the script for the sequel was penned by the director and the married screenwriting duo Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver. The pair have worked on a number of recent big-budget Hollywood scripts like The Planet of the Apes reboot and Jurassic World.

"Can't believe I'm saying this but Avatar: The Way of Water just healed [...] my seasonal depression," wrote journalist and entertainer Markeia McCarty on Twitter. "Visually stunning, incredible dynamics & acting. Lol I wish the movie was even longer."

Chief film critic at IndieWire, David Ehrlich thinks The Way of Water is a huge step up from the 2009 original. "Light years better than the first & easily one of the best theatrical experiences in ages," he said. Complimenting the cinema experience he added, "Streaming found dead in a ditch." He also stated that he now "can't wait" to see Avatar 3, currently scheduled for release in 2024.

Even before its release to the masses, Avatar: The Way of Water received Golden Globe nominations in the Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Director categories.

Not every reviewer found it to be the "masterpiece" others thought it was. The visuals were almost unanimously praised, but odd story beats were noted.

"It's too long and has some baffling story choices, but it's breathtakingly gorgeous, has some cracking action/violence, the world-building is awe-inspiring, and the performances are fab," commented Twitter user @EmilyVMurray.

Entertainment reporter for British outlet Metro, Tori Brazier was full of praise for the movie, except for its length. "It's complicated and A LOT (see again: 3+ hours), with the pace sagging a bit around the 2-hour mark. However, I think you'd be hard-pushed to not be just a little impressed by it all... I don't know if the world needs Avatar 3, 4 & 5, but I'm glad we got Avatar 2," she wrote.

Avatar: The Way of Water is out in movie theaters on Friday December 16. 20th Century Studios (now owned by Disney) has confirmed that the plan is for Avatar 3 to launch in 2024, Avatar 4 to release in 2026 and Avatar 5 is set for 2028.