Unlike post-converted 3D (like Clash of the Titans ), Avatar was natively captured in 3D. The camera operators could "rack focus" the convergence during a shot. In an SBS rip, you can see this in action: the depth moves from foreground foliage to a character stepping through it, guiding the viewer's eye exactly where the director intends.

Avatar: The Way of Water is arguably the best stress test for the SBS format ever created. Here is how it performs:

Side-by-Side 3D is a format where two separate images—one for the left eye and one for the right—are compressed and placed horizontally within a single high-definition frame. When played through a 3D-capable TV or VR headset, the device "unpacks" these images to create a stereoscopic effect.