Good news for movie fans: James Cameron’s record-breaking blockbuster ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ has returned to the big screen in the Philippines for a limited one-week run, starting Wednesday, October 1.
The film is screening in select SM Cinemas nationwide, including premium formats such as IMAX 3D and 4DX, giving audiences another chance to experience Pandora’s breathtaking oceans in their most immersive form.
At the special IMAX screening in SM Megamall, invited media and fans were treated not only to the spectacle of the 2022 hit, but also to a sneak peek of the upcoming sequel “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” scheduled to premiere worldwide on December 19, 2026.
‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ originally premiered in December 2022, more than a decade after the first ‘Avatar’ shattered box-office records in 2009. The sequel went on to earn over $2.3 billion (₱128.8 billion) globally, securing its place as the third highest-grossing film of all time.
The movie also bagged the Oscar for Best Visual Effects at the 95th Academy Awards, praised for its groundbreaking underwater performance capture and dazzling bioluminescent imagery.
For many, seeing the film in IMAX remains the definitive experience. Viewers once again get to immerse themselves in the reef world of the Metkayina clan — from the shimmer of Pandora’s marine life to the sheer scale of its crashing waves.
The story followed Jake Sully and Neytiri as they raised their children while seeking refuge with the Metkayina, the ocean-dwelling Na’vi. Audiences were introduced to Kiri, their mysterious adopted daughter, and Lo’ak, whose bond with the outcast tulkun Payakan became a highlight of the narrative.
The sequel ended on an emotional note with the death of Neteyam, Jake and Neytiri’s eldest son, during the climactic battle against the RDA and the reborn Colonel Quaritch. Despite their grief, the Sully family declared the sea their new home, hinting at greater challenges ahead.
With ‘The Way of Water’ back in theaters, anticipation now builds for ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,’ the third installment in Cameron’s epic saga. While details remain under wraps, the film is expected to expand Pandora’s environments once more and deepen the conflict between the Na’vi and humanity’s colonizing forces.
The franchise is planned to continue with Avatar 4 and Avatar 5, slated for release through 2031.
For longtime fans, this limited run offers a chance to relive the spectacle on the biggest screen possible. For first-timers, it’s an opportunity to catch up on the story before the next chapter ignites later this year.
‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ is now showing in select SM Cinemas nationwide for one week only.
