Disney Just Dropped a Game-Changer That Will Send You Back to See Avatar: The Way of Water on the Big Screen

If you needed an excuse to see Pandora on a massive screen again, here it is: The Way of Water is coming back to theaters for one week, and Disney is dangling brand-new Avatar 3 footage to get you in the door.

What is actually happening

20th Century Studios is re-releasing James Cameron's Avatar: The Way of Water for a one-week theatrical run starting October 3, 2025. Per Variety, each screening will include a sneak peek from the next film, Avatar: Fire and Ash. The catch (and of course there is one): there are three different clips in rotation, and each screening will only show one of them. If you want to see all three, you're signing up for multiple trips.

• When: One-week rerelease starts October 3, 2025
• The hook: A sneak peek from Avatar: Fire and Ash plays with The Way of Water
• How it works: There are three different Fire and Ash clips; each screening shows just one
• Stats check: The Way of Water is Certified Fresh at 76% on Rotten Tomatoes (453 reviews) and made over $2.3 billion worldwide, making it the third highest-grossing movie ever
• Who's making Fire and Ash: Directed by James Cameron; screenplay by Cameron, Rick Jaffa, and Amanda Silver
• Who's back: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Jack Champion, Bailey Bass, Edie Falco, and more
• Release date: Avatar: Fire and Ash hits theaters December 19, 2025

What Fire and Ash is bringing to Pandora

Cameron has been teasing a different side of the Na'vi this time, leaning into a culture we haven't met yet. The fire-themed group is called the Ash People, which feels very on-brand for Cameron's elemental approach to these sequels. He put it this way:

"I want to show the Na'vi from another angle because, so far, I have only shown their good sides. The fire will be represented by the 'Ash People.' I will explore different cultures from those I have already shown."

So, should you go?

If you love this world and want a first look at the next chapter, the rerelease is clearly designed for you. The one-clip-per-screening strategy is a little cheeky, but also kind of fun if you live near a theater with multiple showtimes. And, honestly, The Way of Water is built for the big screen anyway—if you're going back, you might as well get something new with it.