Avatar: The Way Of Water has a huge mission ahead. The first of a possible 5 or 6 Avatar sequels needs to prove that Avatar still has a place in Pop Culture, despite the franchise being pretty much dormant since the original movie's release in 2009. Cameron has currently planned a total of 5 movies for the franchise, with the possible fifth being scheduled for release in 2028. For a company like Disney to hold a spot on their release schedule that far into the future for the Avatar franchise, Avatar: The Way Of The Water needs to prove itself more than a regular successful blockbuster; it must become a cultural phenomenon just like Avatar.

The way of achieving such a highly coveted status is through replicating what worked on the original film and a reinvention of what didn't. The Avatar sequels took so long to release because Cameron was quietly working away on achieving a new level of visual spectacle that would immerse fans again in the world of Pandora and that could replicate the visual magic present in Avatar. Given that the original movie's success was significantly due to the use of CGI and 3D technology behind the flick, if Cameron improves on that aspect, audiences will likely go back in droves to theaters for the Avatar sequels.

Another point Avatar: The Way Of The Water has to get right is the movie's story. Avatar's story wasn't exactly gripping, and many moviegoers have questioned the movie's success over the years because of that. Avatar 2 has to break box office records to be profitable, and to do that, the film needs to win back the audience that has become jaded since the original's release. The Avatar sequel has to give people something to care about, not just a visual feast. After all, Avatar: The Way Of The Water isn't a regular movie, but the sequel to the highest-grossing film of all time and the project that needs to spawn an entire road of possibilities for the franchise. Avatar: The Way Of Water is currently on track for a $185 million to $205 million China debut, which should help the movie's pursuit of box office records.