It is 8:00 p.m. and room 9 of the Ideal Cinemas in Madrid does not fit a soul. After the trailers, practically everyone has already put on their 3D glasses, ready to return to the world of Pandora. Finally, the lights go out and the movie begins. Year 2154, we meet a young man named Jake Sully, an ex-marine who is selected to participate in the Avatar Program… “Wait, this sounds familiar”, “We’ve already seen this one, haven’t we?” “Isn’t that Avatar 2?” A quiet murmur fills the room, two people from the back row get up and leave.
Yes, indeed, many of the viewers who had paid their ticket thought they were going to see the Avatar sequel and they did not realize that it was the re-release of the first. It is not an isolated case, many viewers are going to see James Cameron’s film originally released in 2009 believing it was Avatar: The Sense of Waterone of the most anticipated movies of this year.
What’s going on?
After 13 years, Avatar has been re-released in theaters this week. A way for a whole new generation to enjoy it on the big screen and in 3D before again before the long-awaited sequel lands or those who already enjoyed it at the time can refresh their memory. But apparently this is causing problems with people asking for their money back because they have confused Avatar with the sequel scheduled for December 16 this year. The desire to return to Pandora has clouded the judgment of more than one.
“I’ve been planning with my friends all week to go see Avatar 2. We’re all super excited. Yesterday we found out it was 1. Now, is it lack of reading comprehension or misleading advertising? Because I think the viewer is blamed when he is not guilty at all. Neither in the trailer that jumps on YouTube nor in the poster does it say that it is the re-release of the 1 “, criticized a user on Twitter a few days ago.
All week I’ve been planning with my friends to go see avatar2.
Everyone super excited.
Yesterday we found out it was 1
😑
Now, is it a lack of reading comprehension or misleading advertising?
Because I think the viewer is blamed when he is not guilty at all#Avatar pic.twitter.com/iKNb9dvt7a
– Mate (@PaddyLollipop) October 1, 2022
Perhaps “misleading advertising” is not the correct term, since there is nothing misleading about it. First of all, if we pay attention to the poster, we see that it is highlighted that “returns to theaters” and reads “Avatar” only. Although it is true that returning to theaters may imply that the franchise returns in some way.
Also is true that It is not usually too common to re-release first parts ahead of the release of second installments, but the case of Avatar has been an exception considering that the film was originally released more than ten years ago. The average Spanish citizen is not used to these things happening.
And finally, in defense of these confused people, it must be commented that the same second installment does not have the “2” anywhere, a tradition that has been lost in recent years. Is named Avatar: The Water Sense, and that can lead to the confusion of many. If it was called Avatar 2, it would be a bit clearer and not cause any confusion.
In short, that the theater workers themselves are confirming the long queues that are piling up at the exit of the sessions asking for refunds for confusing both installments. Though, as a Cinépolis worker commentedon all the posters of his cinema, he makes the word “Rerun” very clear. Some even point it out with signs on extra. The networks they have been filled with publications with dozens of people affected by the same movie buff error.
With 2,847 million euros raised, Avatar is the highest grossing film in history. And, for the clueless: Avatar: The Sense of Water, which opens on December 16, will not be the only one that will come to us from the universe created by James Cameron. The saga will extend over five films released in different years: Avatar 3: The Seed Bearer (December 20, 2024), Avatar 4: The Tulkun Rider (December 18, 2026 and Avatar 5: The Quest for Eywa (December 22, 2028).