Avatar: The Way of Water is a 13-year encore in the making and the longest anticipated James Cameron sequel ever, with even more Avatar sequels in the works (Avatar 3 already completed for release in December 2024). But in the wake of 2022’s hot competition (like Top Gun: Maverick, The Whale and Everything Everywhere All at Once), can Avatar 2 defy all odds and once again create movie history?
In This Avatar: The Way of Water Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, I’m breaking down the visuals, the story, a full PG-13 age rating explanation for violence, adult themes and language, and what kids’ age recommendation is suggested to watch in this new 2022 Avatar 2 sequel in this Avatar: The Way of Water parents guide to the new 20th Century Fox film. A no-spoiler parent review of Avatar: The Way of Water, will audiences embrace another round of seeing blue? Or has the Na’vi novelty finally worn off?
The Visuals
Using ground breaking motion capture technology to CGI conversion and 3D spotlight back in 2009, James Cameron moves to high frame rate (48 frames per second) in 2022 to enhance the Pandora experience as this Avatar sequel progresses from land to sea. More of a theme park experience than a film, this interactive work of art immerses audiences into the movie screen to live and breathe as the Na’vi do in an underwater landscape.
Well played, Cameron. Well played.
Of all movies, if you’re a visual experience person, Avatar: The Way of Water is worth paying the extra buck. Be warned, this immersive experience does have a dizzying and sometimes nauseated effect, which may be disorienting and overstimulating for people and kids with sensory issues. It may take time to adjust to all of the CGI, 3D and high frame rate. And it may also take time to readjust to dry land, and reality.
Photosensitivity Warning. Holy flashing lights, Batman. Not only do we have lightning and strobing effects in this movie, but in MULTIPLE scenes. Those with photosensitivity and epilepsy, beware. Avatar: The Way of Water is NOT photosensitive friendly and may induce seizures.
The Story
Award winning director James Cameron (“Titanic“) returns to Pandora in this highly anticipated 13-year in the making Avatar 2 sequel. Featuring an all-star cast including the reprise of Sam Worthington (“Clash of the Titans“) as Jake Sully and Zoe Saldana (“Guardians of the Galaxy“) as Neytiri, along with Sigourney Weaver (“Alien“), Stephen Lang (“Tombstone“), Kate Winslet (“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind“) as Ronal, Cliff Curtis (“Training Day“) as Tonowari, and Edie Falco (“The Sopranos“) as General Frances Ardmore.
Avatar: The Way of Water PG-13 Rating Explained
Is Avatar: The Way of Water safe for kids? Did someone say Avatar and partial nudity? Weren’t the Na’vi already scantily clad? It’s no secret that I am highly skeptical of all MPAA ratings (um hello, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker not disclosing any language??). And as we know, not all movie and TV age ratings are the same. As a parent, it’s been rather heartbreaking to witness how ratings have shifted over the years with a G-rating no longer an option.
PG ratings now oscillating between Turning Red intense to Christopher Robin calm, and even PG-13/TV-14 age ratings teetering on the edge of R or MA ratings (Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and Werewolf by Night, I see you!), there’s a wide range between the age of 0-12 years old for parents to consider. Having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or show is kid friendly – and safe for the whole family to watch together.
Why is Avatar: The Way of Water rated PG-13? In this Avatar: The Way of Water Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, this James Cameron Avatar 2 sequel is rated PG-13 for “sequences of strong violence and intense action, partial nudity, and some strong language.” With film and TV ratings also unpredictable these days, having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or television show like Avatar: The Way of Water is kid friendly. Is Avatar: The Way of Water too scary for kids? Is Avatar 2 too sexy for children? Let’s breakdown that PG-13 age rating in this Avatar: The Way of Water parents guide.
Violence/Suspense. As expected, this colonialism based trope continues. Use of highly mechanized weapons (such as automatic guns and taser sticks) meets crude primitive weapons (such as bows and arrows). Along with hand-to-hand fighting, blunt force trauma, torture, a moderate amount of blood and gore (including dismemberment) and multiple kill shots, Avatar: The Way of Water is pretty comparable to the original Avatar film and even MORE intense.
Parents, keep in mind that there are a quite a few more suspenseful/jump scare, peril moments in this Avatar 2 sequel. Animal cruelty, torture, killing and death are also a huge focus in this movie, for those who are sensitive.
Adult Themes. Keeping in mind that the Na’vi are normally scantily clad people (men and women, here), Avatar: The Way of Water has one VERY brief moment (like 2 seconds) in the beginning of the film where you can see a woman’s nipple. If you blink, you would miss it. Hugging and holding hands are the extent of the sexual content otherwise. (Thankfully.) There is one line asking about “who knocked her up?”
Death, near death (including drowning and near drowning) and grief are also prevalent adult themes, as well as family estrangement and other family internal struggles, bullying, and insults/mocking in regards to Na’vi diversity, race, and being labeled as different.
Language. Well, 10+ years, the Na’vi have certainly taken on the English language. And the blue people have definitely adapted to foul language behavior – sadly. Swear words and profanity are NUMEROUS throughout Avatar: The Way of Water, including one “f-bomb,” countless uses of “b!tch,” “sh!t,” d@mn” and “d@mmit”, “@ss,” “b@stards,” “crap,” “H-E-double-hockey-sticks,” “sucks,” and 2 middle finger gestures.
Oh, wait, but that’s not all! You also get all of the mild insults and soft language including multiple uses of “freak,” “stupid,” “losers,” “bloody,” “idiot,” “Oh G-d,” “J*sus,” “shut up,” “buttholes,” and one shocking “penis face.”
Avatar: The Way of Water Movie Age Rating for Kids
Is Avatar: The Way of Water kid friendly?
At a runtime of 3 hours 12 minutes, this Avatar 2 film sequel is one of the LONGEST films ever made. Breaking the record for the 2 hour 41 minute original Avatar film and with no intermission in sight, attention spans and bladders for children (and adults!) may waiver.
Add in lengthy amounts of dialogue, a complicated Na’vi language dialect, a slow plot build intense violence, and a huge increase in profanity, your child’s maturity level will be a huge factor in determining if Avatar: The Way of Water is for kids.
What is Avatar: The Way of Water comparable to?
A cross between 1990 Dances with Wolves and 1992 Fern Gully meets 1995 Waterworld in this new Avatar sequel film. And gasp, do I dare say I feel James Cameron’s old Titanic vibes too?
Is Avatar: The Way of Water rated PG-13?
This 2022 Avatar 2 film sequel is MPAA rated PG-13 for “sequences of strong violence and intense action, partial nudity, and some strong language.“
Does Avatar: The Way of Water have an end credit scene?
No, Avatar 2 does NOT have any end credits scenes. No need to sit and wait for the credits to finish.
What age rating is recommended to watch Avatar: The Way of Water?
Based on my Avatar: The Way of Water parents guide and mom review above, this parent movie reviewer would not recommend Avatar 2 for kids younger than the age of 12-13 years old.
Is Avatar: The Way of Water OK for Kids?
Considering the full PG-13 rating breakdown above, this parent movie reviewer would not recommend Avatar: The Way of Water for kids younger than the age of 12-13 years old.
This Avatar: The Way of Water rating is easily comparable to the first Avatar movie. I still recommend parents to prescreen Avatar 2 for intense violent scenes and language. If your kids have seen and love the Avatar film, then they will love Avatar: The Way of Water. Just keep in mind the slow pace (that first half is a doozy!), bathroom breaks, and the potential overstimulation of CGI, high frame rate and 3D visuals.