This is a possible watch order for the Avatar franchise. Many communities design watch orders for the arguable best possible experience for the viewer, because seeing specific media in a certain order can prevent spoilers, reduce confusion and heighten the experience.
While mainstream audiences will only tend to watch the movies in order, Avatar, however, is a series which contains plot developments in the comics as part of an expanded universe in order to get the full story. The Avatar video games are more standalone and most of them are non-canon now, anyway.
Here is a possible watch order.
Watch Order[]
- Avatar is where most fans begin and is a necessary viewing; however, it is not chronologically first in the Avatar timeline (see below). There are 4 different versions of the film, 3 of which are included in the Extended Collector's Edition.
- The original theatrical release from 2009, which is most people's first viewing experience.
- The 2010 special edition rereleases contain 16 minutes of additional footage, which is canonical. This is a recommended viewing after or before the original theatrical version.
- The third disc in the Extended Collector's Edition is similar to the special edition, but contains another 7 minutes of additional footage, most of which is minor.
- The 2022 remaster and theatrical rerelease is identical to the 2009 theatrical release in terms of content, except for one added scene in which Parker Selfridge says to Jake, "You know this isn't over, yet?", alluding to the return of the RDA in the second film.
- Toruk - The First Flight (optional, but recommended) - From now on, we are exploring the past. This is an optional prequel set thousands of years before the film.
- The World of Avatar: A Visual Exploration (optional, but recommended) - This is an excellent guide to the series which explains many things in great detail about the series, and also references Toruk as well. It also features briefs overviews of the clans, and reviews what viewers know about Avatar.
- Avatar: Adapt or Die (optional, but recommended): This is comic exploring Grace's history with the Na'vi. It serves as a prequel to the first film. It is not a very long read and should not take more than an hour and 20 minutes.
- Avatar: Tsu'tey's Path (optional, but recommended): This is comic about Tsu'tey's perspective during the Avatar film. A lot of it is simply a re-tread of the first film, but gives more characterization to Tsu'tey.
- Avatar: The Next Shadow: This continues the story after the Avatar film. Because the characters from the film appear, and Jake, in particular, gets character development, this comic cannot be safely considered optional; its events, however, have yet to be referenced in later material.
- Avatar: The High Ground: This continues the main story, and serves as a comic prequel to The Way of Water. Note that if viewers prefer, The Way of Water can be experienced first, although The High Ground should be read after to help fill in story questions and gaps.
- Avatar: The Way of Water: Major film installment that should not be missed.
- Avatar: The Way of Water: The Visual Dictionary (optional, but recommended): This book can enhance one's understanding of The Way of Water.
- Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora — So'lek's Journey: A comic prequel to Frontiers of Pandora; while set before The Way of Water, this comic can be put here as breathing room in order to not interfere with the Sully family story.
- Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora: See above.
- Avatar 3
Chronological Watch/Read Order[]
The following is the watch/read order of Avatar material arranged chronologically according to the in-universe timeline.
- Toruk - The First Flight: Thousands of years before the first film
- Avatar: Adapt or Die: Approximately 12 years before the first film
- Avatar / Avatar: Tsu'tey's Path: Set at the same time but from different perspectives
- Avatar: The Next Shadow: Set 2 weeks after the first film
- Avatar: The High Ground: Set 14 years after the first film and a year before The Way of Water
- Avatar: The Way of Water: The next major film installment