The premiere for Avatar: The Way of Water has revealed James Cameron’s sequel to his 2009 function Avatar, kicking off the director’s deliberate franchise run with extra movies to increase the world of Pandora. So what did critics and early audiences assume?

The first Na’vi story fueled a fervent fandom, detailed cosplay, a preferred Disney Parks land, and Cameron’s intent to shoot its 4 sequels almost all again to again. There’s by no means been a extra bold endeavor or something to cease Cameron, whose at all times manages to unleash the following massive factor in cinematic experiences. On December 16, followers will make the selection to return to Pandora—even when simply to search out out how Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang have returned alongside Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana. Or to expertise that candy, candy Dolby 3D tech that at D23 Expo 2022 felt like a brand new technique to expertise films in methods you may’t at residence.

Here are the primary reactions from the premiere and screenings that occurred upfront of the movie’s launch.

Want extra io9 information? Check out when to count on the newest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on movie and TV, and every little thing it’s worthwhile to find out about James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water.