Director James Cameron is fully aware the runtime for Avatar: The Way of Water will be a bone of contention for moviegoers but he’s here to tell the moviegoing public that he doesn’t want to hear any whining about the film’s lengthy runtime.
According to James Cameron, via Empire, the current runtime for Avatar: The Way of Water clocks in at three hours. For those who will turn their nose up to seeing a film that long in theaters, Cameron has this to say:
“I don’t want anybody whining about the length when they sit and binge-watch [television] for eight hours. It’s like, give me a f*cking break. I’ve watched my kids sit and do five one-hour episodes in a row. Here’s the big social paradigm shift that has to happen: it’s OK to get up and go pee.”
I see what James Cameron but there is a difference between binging content from the comfort of your own home and seeing a lengthy film at your local movie theater. First, you’re in the comfort of your own home so you’re at ease in your own space. You also can stop and go as you see fit. I know I don’t binge things straight through. I take breaks and grab a bite to eat or something to drink. I might even go out for a bit before coming back to revisit what I was watching. You don’t really have that luxury during a screening at a movie theater. I also say this as someone who is not opposed to long movies. If it’s a good film, a lengthy runtime is no problem for me. James Cameron is also no stranger to long movies. 2009’s Avatar was 2hrs 42mins while 1997’s Titanic is 3hrs 14mins. Those movies are two of the biggest films of all time so clearly, their runtimes weren’t really an issue. Viewing habits have certainly changed since the release of those films and that could be why Cameron thinks the runtime for the Avatar sequel will garner some complaints.
Do YOU agree with James Cameron? Avatar: The Way of Water hits screens on December 16, 2022.