Update: You have until midnight tonight to get your tickets!  Click here to get ’em!

As announced at SDCC, on August 21, in select IMAX 3D theaters, you’ll be able to catch the first footage from Avatar, the new movie from James Cameron.  How do you get tickets?  Well, by battling to the death with other fans of course!

Kidding … actually, all you need to do is register at the official Avatar website, http://www.avatarmovie.com/ this coming Monday at noon PST.

The Los Angeles Times has more info:

On Monday, 20th Century Fox will launch an unusual offer on the website for its Cameron-directed film “Avatar”: free tickets for an early look at 16 minutes of footage from the futuristic thriller that will be shown in more than 100 Imax 3-D theaters around the world.

With two screenings on Friday, Aug. 21 (at 6 and 6:30 p.m.), the “Avatar” preview will include an introduction from Cameron and some new footage not shown during July’s Comic-Con International convention in San Diego.

In what’s sure to be a mad grab among sci-fi fans, tickets will be given away a first-come, first-served basis on the “Avatar” website (www.avatarmovie.com) at noon PST Monday.

Also premiering on the 21st are the trailer for the movie, the trailer for the upcoming Ubisoft video game, and Mattel’s official unveiling of the Avatar action figures.  Sounds like they expect big things from this movie!  I don’t remember another time like this where people went specifically to the movies to see a trailer – and no, Episode I doesn’t count, because that actually came attached to (shudder) Wing Commander.

For more on Avatar, check out our script review!