Avatar: The Way of Water is swimming onto Disney Plus and Max in June
Avatar 2 won’t be a Disney Plus exclusive
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Avatar: The Way of Wateris ready to make its ‘proper’ streaming debut – but it won’t be a Disney Plus exclusive.
The box office juggernaut, which is the third-highest-grossing movie of all time, is set to arrive onDisney Plusand Max on Wednesday, June 7. Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) confirmedAvatar 2would arrive on their respective platforms in separate press releases on May 15.
It’s about timeAvatar: The Way of Watermade its way onto a big streaming service – or, in this case, two. James Cameron’s latest money-spinning sci-fi flick launched in theaters in December 2022, so it’s been a lengthy wait for its official streaming debut.
We say official, too, becauseAvatar 2has technically been available to stream at home since March 28. However, it’s only been available to rent or buy on select services, such asAppleTV and theAmazonstore, meaning Disney Plus subscribers have had to bide their time forThe Way of Waterto swim its way onto the service.
#AvatarTheWayOfWater is streaming on @disneyplus June 7 🌊 pic.twitter.com/RVlaJIK6ieMay 15, 2023
GivenAvatar 2’s colossal performance at the box office, it isn’t a huge surprise that its streaming debut has been delayed. Cameron’s latest big-budget movie earned itself a not-too-shabby $2.32 billion globally; a figure that cemented its place as the biggest money-making film of 2022, and the highest-grossing movie of the so-called pandemic era.
We weren’t shocked byAvatar 2’s titanic performance, though, especially as we rated it as one of thebest movies of 2022. In ourAvatar: The Way of Waterreview, we called it a “phenomenal feat of filmmaking”, and said Cameron “delivered on the promise of truly jaw-dropping visual effects, he also gives a beating heart to a story that, somehow, manages to make us care deeply for a family of blue aliens… we haven’t encountered for a decade.”
If you somehow missed Avatar 2 in theaters – or were simply waiting for it to be available on one of thebest streaming servicesaround – then, the wait is nearly over. And, thanks to a deal between WBD and Disney, viewers in some world regions will have a choice of where they can stream it.
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Setting sail for two separate streamers
Avatar 2might be a Disney-owned movie – the entertainment behemoth owns 20th Century Studios, which produced the film – but it won’t be a Disney Plus exclusive.
As I mentioned earlier, it’s also coming to Max, WBD’s new super-streamer. The platform, which launches on May 23, is essentially HBO Max’s replacement, and will combine the content libraries of HBO Max and Discovery Plus (the latter will still be offered as a standalone service, however). You can find out more about Max’s forthcoming launch in our article7 things HBO Max fans need to know about the new Max streaming service.
So, why isAvatar: The Way of Watergoing to be available on Max as well as Disney Plus? Isn’t it in Disney’s best interests to make it exclusive on its biggest streaming platform?
It all boils down to a deal – one predating Warner Bros. and Discovery’s merger in March 2022 – that Disney and Warner Bros. signed in November 2021. Basically, the agreement allows select 20th Century Studios movies to be shared between Disney Plus andHulu, which Disney owns, and HBO Max. That enabled some 20th Century-developed films, such asThe Banshees of InisherinandAmsterdam, to be viewable on HBO Max for a certain amount of time.
WithAvatar 2releasing simultaneously on Max and Disney Plus, the agreement between Disney Media and WBD seems set to continue for the foreseeable future. So, if you’re not signed up to Disney Plus but you own an HBO Max subscription – one that will carry over to Max very soon – you’ll still be able to watch one of the best movies of 2022 from the comfort of your own home. Just make sure you’re stacked up on snacks and plan your bathroom breaks, becauseThe Way of Water’s three hour-plus runtime demands it.
For moreAvatar 2-based coverage, read our exclusive onthe truth behind that viralAvatar: The Way of Waterhand shot. Additionally, find outhowAvatar 2animators tricked James Cameron into believing some shots were practical, or learn where we rankThe Way of Waterin ourbest James Cameron moviesguide.
As TechRadar’s senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You’ll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.
An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Tom also writes reviews, analytical articles, opinion pieces, and interview-led features on the biggest franchises, actors, directors and other industry leaders. You may see his quotes pop up in the odd official Marvel Studios video, too, such as thisMoon Knight TV spot.
Away from work, Tom can be found checking out the latest video games, immersing himself in his favorite sporting pastime of football, reading the many unread books on his shelf, staying fit at the gym, and petting every dog he comes across.
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