You Need 6 Hours To Watch Two Incredible Sci-Fi Movies This Weekend (The Sequel Releases Next Week)

James Cameron’s Avatar movies have been nothing short of revolutionary releases. Whether it’s demolishing box office records, ushering in a new era for 3D movies, or setting a new gold standard for visual effects, the legendary filmmaker used these sci-fi films to change the landscape of Hollywood.

He’s not done yet, with Avatar: Fire and Ash set to release on December 19. It comes 16 years after the original film but only three years after Avatar: The Way of Water. Both of the previous movies are incredible pieces of sci-fi storytelling on the grandest scale possible, with the journey of Jake Sully and the Na’vi on Pandora connecting with people around the world for years.

Now Is The Perfect Time To Watch Avatar & Avatar: The Way Of Water

Whether you’ve never seen the previous movies or consider yourself a hardcore fan of the Avatar franchise, this weekend is the perfect time to watch the first two installments. With Fire and Ash‘s imminent release, there’s no better way to gear up for a visit to your local cinema to check it out on the big screen than to visit or revisit earlier entries.

The Avatar movies have long runtimes in comparison to most other films (even if neither is Cameron’s longest movie), but the total length of these two motion pictures is still shorter than many full series that you’ll binge-watch in a single weekend. Altogether, it takes just under 6 hours to watch the first two Avatar films.

The original movie clocks in at 2 hours and 42 minutes, which is well beyond the average film length. But, it pales in comparison to the sequel, which has a runtime of 3 hours and 12 minutes. If you were to watch Avatar and The Way of Water back-to-back in their entirety (including full credits), it would take you 5 hours and 54 minutes to finish them.

It’s worth noting that Avatar: Fire and Ash‘s runtime is the longest yet, which will make future viewings of the whole franchise significantly longer.

Since neither film has any sort of credits scenes, a binge of the Avatar movies can be trimmed down a bit more by not watching the credits. Still, allotting yourself roughly six hours to watch the two films would be smart, as it allows some time for a bathroom break, grab snacks, and so on to keep enjoying the sci-fi adventures.

Where You Can Watch Both Avatar Movies Before Fire & Ash’s Release

If you don’t own physical copies of the first two releases, there are still ways for you to watch them at home this week. Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water are currently streaming on Disney+ for any subscriber.

Whether you have just a Disney+ subscription or have it as part of a streaming bundle, you’ll have access to watch Cameron’s blockbuster hits from the comfort of your home. This makes it even easier to find time to see both movies this weekend and get prepared for Fire and Ash‘s release.

An alternate viewing option for non-Disney+ subscribers would be renting or buying them on digital. Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Fandango At Home have options for both Avatar movies.

It costs $3.79 to rent either through Prime Video, while Apple and Fandango’s rental price is set at $3.99. You could buy them for $19.99 a piece on Prime Video and Apple, while Fandango’s price is $24.99 each.

With these different possibilities, there are options that can work for just about anybody. Watching them now ensures you’ll be all ready for Avatar: Fire and Ash‘s release next weekend.