The Stream: Three hours of the same plot again, ugh!

The Big Screen: Visually stunning as expected.

The Final Bill: A feast for the eyes, but otherwise an annoying retread.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: James Cameron
Writers: James Cameron, Rick Jaffa, and Amanda Silver (screenplay)
Stars: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Oona Chaplin, Edie Falco, Jack Champion
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, bloody images, some strong language, thematic elements and suggestive material
Runtime: 3 hours 8 minutes
Production Companies: 20th Century Studios, Lightstorm Entertainment, TSG Entertainment
Platform: In theaters December 19, 2025
Notable Trailers: Supergirl, Michael, Digger, The Odyssey, Project Hail Mary, Send Help, Primate

Hey, Streamers! We’re a little late on this Avatar: Fire and Ash train. It was a very busy end of 2025 for us. Nevertheless, we couldn’t ignore James Cameron’s latest blockbuster entry in the Avatar saga. In Avatar: Fire and Ash, we are back in Pandora after the events of Way of Water, where the Sully clan is reeling from the death of their son and brother when a new threat from the Mangkwan tribe arrives. The Mangkwan tribe has a vendetta against Eywa and are led by Varang (Oona Chaplin), a slinky, fire-throwing priestess. The Mangkwan join forces with the humans that seek to destroy Pandora and its resources along with the Sully family and capture Spider. Blue-for-water and red-for-fire hijinks ensue.

If you have seen one of the previous Avatar movies, then you know what you are going to get from Avatar: Fire and Ash. The visuals of this movie are legitimately stunning. It is truly awe-inspiring what the mind of James Cameron has created. It looks crisp and engaging on the big screen. It doesn’t look real per se, but is it supposed to? It also looks kind of like more of the same especially compared to Way of Water. Anyway, it is gorgeous and should be celebrated. Also, there are really fantastic action sequences that will keep you entertained and engaged. Cameron does a great job of maintain dramatic tension through his action setpieces.

Unfortunately, movies are more than just visuals. Everything other than the creative, production elements of this movie is weak. The story, itself, is a retread of the previous movies. There are just new villains to contend with. It is so predictable, and what’s worse is that it takes 3 hours to tell this same boring story. Additionally, the dialogue is hokey and lame. I challenge you not to roll your eyes at many of the lines. On top of that, the acting is bad. I think only Zoe Saladana and Oona Chaplin kind of makes their characters make sense, but it’s a low bar compared to their costars.

Ultimately, Avatar: Fire and Ash has incredible visuals and effects that are dazzling on the big screen. Unfortunately, the story is a retread of what occurred in the previous movies, the characters are annoying, and the dialogue is dumb. If you’re an Avatar fan, the visuals will be enough to distract you from how weak the movie is otherwise. If you are not an Avatar fan, you’ll probably want to spend your three hours doing something more worthwhile.