Avatar: The Road of Water already make waves at the box office (river). The long-awaited sequel to James Cameron’s 2009 sci-fi blockbuster, water path playing in everything from from 3D IMAX to regular 2D and has become a theatrical attraction, which at the time of writing has earned nearly $500 million globally. But if you’ve been waiting to watch this incredibly long movie from the comfort of your own couch (where you can press pause when you need to use the bathroom), how long will you have to wait?
Disney hasn’t announced when yet Avatar: The Road of Water will be available for streaming. For movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, since Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsthe company has adopted a 45 days minimum window between its theatrical debut and its online release. If Avatar: The Road of Water according to that process, the earliest it can hit the platform is January 30th. However, depending on how successful the movie is, Disney tends to extend that process — Thor: Love and Thunder for example, streamed 62 days after launch and we still don’t have a streaming date for Black Panther: Wakanda forever.
Not all Disney-produced movies follow that 45-day rule (see strange world, which launches Disney Plus on December 23) but that fate is often reserved for movies that don’t do well at the box office. Nicknamed by Avatar: The Road of Water’wildly successful, that doesn’t seem to be the result of the movie. In fact, Disney will likely want to keep the movie in theaters for as long as possible. After all, the original movie hit theaters for 234 days. Although it is unlikely that Disney will wait that long to release the sequel on Disney Plus, water path may not be streamed until 2023.
There’s also a chance the movie will be available to rent or download, with the streaming option not available until much later. That is the case with Top Gun: Maverick, won’t launch Paramount Plus until seven months after launch (December 22), although it was available to rent in August. If that is the case, Avatar: The Road of Water may be available for rent or purchase around March 2023 (that’s a 90-day period), but won’t launch Disney Plus until next year.
There are also again hiccup: Disney is considered to have an extended contract between 20th Century Studios and HBO. The contract will expire in 2022, but it is unclear if Avatar: The Road of Water fall below it. If so, the series could have a brief stint on HBO Max before moving to Disney Plus. Disney has not said anything on the matter.
In the meantime, there are plenty of options for watching movies in theaters — including a 4DX release. Payment procedures our review and then geek out on cosmic whale.
