Ahead of the release of its sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, the original Avatar film will no longer be available to stream. Formerly on Disney Disney, the film was recently, and quietly, removed from the streaming giant's library.
Avatar has always been a hit with audiences, and it has held the record for number one highest grossing film since its release. The only film that has come close to overtaking its $2.85 billion intake is Avengers: Endgame, which briefly overtook Avatar until the latter reclaimed its title. Alongside James Cameron's iconic Titanic, Avatar the only pre-2010 offering on the list of the top 10 films with the highest box office intake.
So it comes as no surprise that Avatar is being pulled from Disney Plus' library one month ahead of its theatrical re-release. The prospect of a re-release will only bolster the film's box office numbers. With anticipation for its sequel at an all-time high, fans will have to watch Avatar in theaters if they want to rewatch the original film. It's currently unclear when the film will be re-added to Disney's streaming service, but with Avatar: The Way of Water releasing in December, it may return to Disney Plus for the holidays, just in time for audiences to catch up on what they might have forgotten from the first installment.
Of course, the move allows Disney to hype up the return of Avatar when the time comes. It's a move that guarantees audiences will keep talking about Avatar in the months to follow. News of its ever-increasing box office will keep the franchise in the headlines, which will also have a secondary effect of creating more speculation and hype for the second installment. Avatar's return to the big screen also has the promise to re-energize theatergoers.
Since the pandemic began, theaters have seen a steady downturn in their attendance rates. Many franchises and chains are struggling to return to pre-pandemic attendance levels. The return of Avatar may invigorate these theaters since one of the major draws of the first film was its impeccable theater experience. Fans clamored to watch the movie in IMAX and 3D. It's possible that the promise of a film that's already proven itself to be a crowd-pleaser at the theater may draw audiences back into their seats.
Only time can tell considering Avatar has a secondary reputation among some fans who claim that it's an over-hyped film. Others claim it's forgettable, with little artistic value and a small cultural impact. Perhaps its re-release will be a way to truly gauge its cultural import.
Avatar will return to theaters on September 23, 2022, and Avatar: The Way of Water hits theaters on December 16, 2022.
Source: Collider