Avatar is returning to theaters this week, further solidifying its spot as the highest-grossing movie of all time. Initially released in 2009, the film currently sits at a hefty $2.84 billion at the box office, with more to come when the movie returns to the big screen. Despite varying reception from critics and audiences, Avatar is undoubtedly one of the most visually pleasing films ever released. The planet of Pandora is filled with vibrant colors and jaw-dropping landscapes with a detailed world that fans are eager to jump back into.
Now, the movie is getting a substantial upgrade as it returns in stunning 4K with high-dynamic range. James Cameron released a video promoting the Avatar re-release, saying this is "The way it was meant to be seen."
"Hi everyone, I'm Jim Cameron. Ever since I was a kid going to the movies, there was nothing like the cinema experience. When we made Avatar, we set out to push the limits of that experience. And now the movie has been remastered in stunning 4K, high-dynamic range, and 9.1 sound, and it's returning to theaters on September 23rd for a limited time. See Avatar the way it was meant to be seen, on the big screen."
The full video, which includes a few clips of the remastered edition of Avatar, can be found below.
Avatar returns to theaters later this month, on Sept. 23.
Avatar: The Way of Water is Set to Arrive in December
Avatar: The Way of Water, the sequel 13 years in the making, is set for release later this year. The film features an ensemble cast, including many actors reprising their roles from the first film. Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, and Matt Gerald will return to their respective parts, while Sigourney Weaver returns but plays a new character in the movie.
Michelle Yeoh, Kate Winslet, Oona Chaplin, Jermaine Clement, Edie Falco, Cliff Curtis, Chloe Coleman, and Bailey Bass all make their way to the ongoing franchise for the first time in Avatar: The Way of Water. Of course, Cameron returns to direct the sequel, although his involvement over the course of the planned five-film run is up in the air.
The official synopsis for the film reads: "Jake Sully lives with his newfound family formed on the planet of Pandora. Once a familiar threat returns to finish what was previously started, Jake must work with Neytiri and the army of the Na'vi race to protect their planet." Avatar: The Way of Water is set for release later this year, on Dec. 16.