Avatar: The Way of Water

film by Cameron [2022]

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 22, 2026

Quick Summary

Kate Winslet British actress Kate Winslet attending the photocall for *Avatar: The Way of Water*, London, 2022.

Avatar: The Way of Water is a 2022 American science fiction film directed by James Cameron and the second installment in the Avatar franchise. The film continues the story of Jake Sully and Neytiri, who now have a family and are forced to flee their home to protect their children from a returning human threat. They seek refuge with a coastal Na'vi clan, adapting to a new life in and around the water while facing continued exploitation of Pandora by humans and a quest for revenge from a resurrected Colonel Quaritch. The film was a box office success, praised for its visual effects, though it also faced criticism for its narrative and colonial themes.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

- James Cameron
  Avatar
  In 2022 Cameron released Avatar: The Way of Water, which he directed and cowrote; it became the third-biggest box office hit of all time. The third installment of the franchise, titled Avatar: Fire and Ash, released in 2025.
  Read More
  In 2022 Cameron released Avatar: The Way of Water, which he directed and cowrote; it became the third-biggest box office hit of all time. The third installment of the franchise, titled Avatar: Fire and Ash, released in 2025.
  Read More