[Focus+] 'Avatar 2' 3D Glasses On for 3 Hours, Still Worth Watching?

'Avatar: The Way of Water' Ticket Reservation Rate 88.6%
Attention on Whether the Sequel Can Surpass 10 Million Viewers

Still from the movie 'Avatar: The Way of Water'. Photo by Walt Disney Company Korea

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Will it reach 10 million viewers again this time? The first foreign film to hit 10 million viewers, "Avatar," has returned with a sequel.

Director James Cameron earned $2.92291 billion (3.7772 trillion KRW) worldwide with "Avatar" in 2009. The 3D (three-dimensional) world displayed on the screen was revolutionary. It was widely praised as an astonishing technical achievement. Domestically, 13.33 million people watched it, setting the record for the highest-grossing foreign film. After 13 years, the sequel has arrived. On the 14th, "Avatar: The Way of Water" (hereafter "Avatar 2") was released. According to the Korea Film Council's integrated box office system, advance ticket sales alone reached 860,000, with a reservation rate of 88.6%.

The second installment shifts the setting from the forest to the sea. While the first film depicted the conflict between humans and the native Na'vi on the planet Pandora, the second film portrays the story 10 years later, showing the lives of Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), who have formed a family and grown. Through the family’s move to the seaside, the natural environment and creatures of Pandora are realized in 3D.

Some expect another 10 million viewer hit following "The Outlaws 2." This is because it is a new work by the master of box office hits, James Cameron, and the anticipation effect of the previous film that led advancements in film technology is at play. However, there is no guarantee. On the 21st, just a week later, "Hero" by Yoon Je-kyun, a representative director of 10 million viewer films in Chungmuro, will be released. The press screening reactions for "Hero" are positive. It is praised for cleverly utilizing the strengths of original musicals and effectively showcasing the director’s talents.

The film market has undergone a paradigm shift since the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the film industry has been cautious about predicting box office success. Online video streaming services (OTT) platforms are competing to release high-quality original content, and movie ticket prices have also increased. Now, audiences tend not to watch multiple movies they want to see. They watch more selectively and actively voice their opinions through various channels if the movie does not meet expectations. A boring movie is exposed within half a day of release. As a result, anticipated blockbusters may be thoroughly ignored, while unexpected works can generate enormous profits.

Still from the movie 'Avatar: The Way of Water'. Photo by Walt Disney Company Korea

What about "Avatar 2"? It is a blockbuster with a $2 billion (2.6 trillion KRW) budget. While the industry naturally expects it to succeed, there is a mood to watch the audience’s choice. Will domestic viewers go to see the film?

A film industry insider said, "You have to wear a mask and 3D glasses and sit for over three hours in the theater. I’m curious how audiences, who are used to shorter running times, will accept the 192-minute runtime. The film’s main target is young viewers accustomed to fast editing and flashy effects. It will be interesting to see what choice they make. We need to watch whether they will endure the discomfort and still visit theaters."

The insider added, "It has succeeded in attracting attention with the halo effect of the previous film," but also said, "While the CG is innovative, there are reactions that the story development is weak and the long runtime is somewhat boring." They also noted, "There is a physical limit to the number of screenings per day. Due to the long runtime, the number of screenings is reduced, making it difficult to reach 10 million viewers."

Another insider said, "The high-quality CG is astonishing enough to prove why theaters are necessary and their reason for existence. The underwater world is well realized, and the beautiful nature of Earth is depicted more vividly than in the previous film. You become so immersed that you forget you are wearing 3D glasses. The near-live-action visuals prove the advancement of technology."

They continued, "MZ generation viewers, who like direct experiences, might watch the film despite the inconvenience of glasses and masks. The important factor is the reaction within a day or two of release. Box office success will depend on the first reviews. If a trend of 'it’s fun' forms, it will succeed, but if not, it will be ignored."