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Why Disney+ can’t legally stream Avatar 2 exclusively

By Bryce Olin

(L-R): Tsireya (Bailey Bass), Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), Neteyam (Jamie Flatters), Lo'ak (Britain Dalton), and Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) in 20th Century Studios' AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
(L-R): Tsireya (Bailey Bass), Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), Neteyam (Jamie Flatters), Lo'ak (Britain Dalton), and Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) in 20th Century Studios' AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved. /
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Avatar: The Way of the Water is coming to Disney+ very soon. Fans have been waiting for months to watch the new movie on the streaming service, but there’s a catch with Avatar 2 that doesn’t affect most new movies.

Fans will actually be able to stream Avatar: The Way of the Water on Disney+ AND Max, formerly HBO Max, which changed its name to Max last week.

Disney is the studio behind Avatar 2, so why is it also available on Max, which is a streaming service operated by rival studio Warner Bros. Discovery?

Avatar 2 release date on Disney+ and Max

Fans can watch Avatar: The Way of the Water on Disney+ and Max on June 7, 2023.

The film premiered in theaters on Dec. 16, 2022, so fans can stream the movie 173 days after the theatrical premiere. That’s a long wait compared to other new films.

Why Avatar 2 is on Disney+ and Max at the same time

It’s confusing, but it makes sense why Avatar 2 is streaming on Max and Disney+ in June 2023.

Avatar became part of the Disney umbrella after Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, which had an output deal for new movies to head directly to Max after being released in theaters, according to The Direct. Avatar: The Way of Water was one of several movies made under this deal before Disney’s acquisition went through.

The deal applies to movies released through the end of 2022, so it means that Avatar: The Way of the Water will be the last movie released on both Disney+ and Max as a part of this deal.

Avatar 3 will exclusively stream on Disney+

When Avatar 3 is done with its theatrical run, it will be available to stream on Disney+.

Avatar 3 is scheduled to be released in theaters on December 20, 2024. The movie has largely been filmed. Unless something changes, fans will likely be able to stream the movie on Disney+ sometime in the late spring or early summer of 2025. Obviously, a lot could change by then, but that’s how things look right now.

Next. House of the Dragon season 2 eying summer 2024 release date. dark

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