With the sequel now streaming on Disney Plus, it’s a good time to revisit the original Avatar – especially now it’s in 4K HDR on Disney Plus. Here’s how to watch.
When Avatar arrived in 2009, it promised a brave new dawn for the cinematic medium. James Cameron’s groundbreaking 3D film smashed box office records and remains the largest-grossing movie of all time, which even the Marvel Cinematic Universe hasn’t been able to surpass.
But the 3D revolution didn’t quite pan out as the auteur intended: 3D didn’t capture the public imagination in the way many had foreseen, and few films have represented the medium with quite the same magic.
The modern en vogue standard is 4K Ultra HD with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and that has definitely caught on in the home in a way that 3D TVs just haven’t. Thankfully, the original Avatar movie has just been given an upgrade from regular old HD on the Disney Plus streaming platform.
But 14 years on from the original, Cameron returned with a sequel called The Way of Water, which also arrived on Disney Plus (plus the new Max service in the USA) on June 7. You can now watch both films at the top res with that improved dynamic range.
Here’s how to watch Avatar in 4K HDR
Avatar made a triumphant return to Disney Plus in December after a few months away when the original returned to cinemas prior to the release of The Way of Water in December. However, it was only available in high definition. Now it has been upgraded for the full 4K HDR experience, with support for Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos audio and HDR10+
You can tune in right away if you have a compatible 4K HDR TV and/or set-top box.
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Disney+ offers access to loads of original shows like The Mandalorian and Hawkeye, classic films and content from big brands like Star Wars, Marvel and Pixar.
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Avatar: The Way of Water plot and trailer
If you haven’t seen the new flick yet, the official synopsis for the new film reads: “Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, Avatar: The Way of Water begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure.”
You can watch the trailer below.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.