With just weeks left to go before Avatar: The Way of Water arrives in theaters, James Cameron's highly anticipated sequel has been officially rated by the MPAA.
Predictably, the blockbuster will be PG-13 due to "sequences of strong violence and intense action." There's also "some strong language" and, perhaps most surprisingly, "partial nudity." We're sure the Avatar sequel will be no blue movie, though it's undeniably surprising to find out that's contributed to the movie's rating.
It's worth noting, however, that 2009's Avatar received a PG-13 rating for intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language, and some smoking, so "sensuality" has just been replaced by some partial nudity this time around.
We're sure this won't have any sort of impact on Avatar: The Way of Water's chances of box office success, especially with recent estimates pointing to a North American debut of somewhere between $150 million and $175 million. There are even analysts who think it could top $200 million, a huge increase from the $77 million made by Avatar well over a decade ago.
With a rumoured budget of as much as $400 million, it's essential that Avatar: The Way of Water make as much money as possible. It recently secured a release in China, so chances are we'll see this one break some records, even if it doesn't end up grossing as much as its predecessor.
With Avatar: The Way of Water, the franchise reaches new heights as James Cameron transports audiences back to the magnificent world of Pandora in a spectacular and stirring action-packed adventure.
Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, the sequel begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure.
Avatar: The Way of Water splashes down in theaters worldwide on December 16.