Avatar: The Way of Water is more than just a sequel to a sci-fi blockbuster from the late 2000s. The upcoming movie is the long-anticipated follow-up to the highest-grossing movie in cinematic history, surpassed only by Avengers: Endgame for a brief while until it reclaimed its crown with a limited re-release. As such, James Cameron is not only fighting his previous streak, but also going toe-to-toe with the biggest MCU movie in a completely different climate. The only question that remains is this: Will it actually manage to rise the box office challenge of its predecessor?
Meanwhile, a rather overlooked but nonetheless critically acclaimed sci-fi movie from almost a decade ago is finding new life on streaming, though this might not be your typical run-of-the-mill speculative adventure. Check out all of these and more in today’s sci-fi roundup.
James Cameron claims The Way of Water needs to make at least $2 billion to turn a profit
It wouldn’t be an overstatement to suggest that Avatar is one of the most ambitious cinematic franchises in the history of this medium, and even across the entertainment industry. James Cameron has been developing sequels to his hit 2009 flick since it became a surprise box office sensation, and with time, these projects have only risen in scale. According to the latest reports, the Avatar sequels have already cost north of a billion to produce, and the man himself has just revealed that the movie needs to be “the third or fourth highest-grossing film in history” just to break even.
The Way of Water seemingly throws shade at Avengers: Endgame, drawing battle lines
Avengers: Endgame had enough momentum and hype to become the highest-grossing movie of all time, if only for a short period. Now, The Way of Water is bringing the Avatar franchise back from the dead, and everyone is wondering the same thing: Will the James Cameron-led sequel manage to reach the same commercial heights as its predecessor considering the fact that it’s being released in a completely different cinematic landscape? Well, the sequel is definitely feeling cocky enough to flaunt its return, and this new trailer Easter Egg, inadvertent or otherwise, is drawing the box office battle lines all over again.
A grimdark sci-fi thriller starring Chris Evans and Ed Harris is receiving recognition on streaming
Snowpiercer is one of the most criminally underrated sci-fi post-apocalyptic movies of the past two decades, but audiences are granting it a second chance on streaming. Starring Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, Ed Harris, and the late John Hurt, Snowpiercer takes place in a dystopian future where an attempt to reverse global warming has ended in catastrophe and brought about a new ice age. The remnants of civilization are living their lives in a self-sustaining train called Snowpiercer, and since this is a story about humans, you can be sure that they don’t get along quite so well.
TNT attempted to bring the franchise back from the dead with a 2020 TV show reboot, but most people would agree that the 2013 movie should be your go-to adaptation if you’re curious about the story Le Transperceneige originally penned by French comic book creators Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette in 1982.