Avatar: Fire and Ash has been seen by its first audiences and now critics are sharing their first reactions to the movie.
While full reviews are embargoed until December 16, critics are allowed to share brief thoughts on social media right now and many are weighing in with their opinions.
With the longest running time of the Avatar franchise thus far, the movie is drawing both praise for using the time to develop the characters, but also some negative comments for an “overstuffed” plot.
Pretty much all of the reactions thus far are giving glowing mentions of the visuals and series newcomer Oona Chaplin is being singled out for her strong performance as Varang.
Make sure to check out photos of the cast of the movie at the Hollywood red carpet premiere. The film hits theaters on December 19.
Head inside to read all of the reviews…
Read the reactions below.
Never doubt James Cameron. AVATAR: FIRE & ASH is another sprawling, ambitious, gorgeous adventure. Oona Chaplin is the best new element – she’s iconic, she’s gaggy, etc, and her ash tribe rocks. Cameron expands the series’ visual capacity with some innovative, trippy sequences. pic.twitter.com/fxAa7lkSZT
— Cody (@codymonster91) December 2, 2025
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH’s epic length gives us lots of time with the characters, deepening our bond with them and the world of Pandora. Thematically ambitious, but the young cast gives this space opera the heart it needs to really sing. James Cameron still our greatest storyteller. pic.twitter.com/K2DjcoEeqp
— Dancin’ Dan in Holidayland (@dancindanonfilm) December 2, 2025
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH is another soaring journey back to Pandora.
It’s a darker tale this time around, with heightened stakes and a much more grim tone.
While at times it can feel like a retread of the previous films, no one does gripping, climactic action like James Cameron. pic.twitter.com/XRbTK7WEhU
— Daniel Howat (@howatdk) December 2, 2025
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH is the first James Cameron sequel that feels kinda like a regular follow-up rather than an innovative re-envisioning of its predecessor’s world. It also just casually drops ~3-4 of the best/coolest action sequences of the year and I was rapt the whole time.
— Jesse Hassenger (@rockmarooned) December 2, 2025
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH is overstuffed with a lot of plot, further dragged down by repeating familiar beats from the previous entries. But Cameron still delivers amazing spectacle, with an intriguing darker tone. There’s novel concepts here I wish were more thoroughly explored. pic.twitter.com/O6Q6fn7iT2
— Josh Parham (@JRParham) December 2, 2025
#AvatarFireAndAsh is a staggering achievement of moviemaking, and an all round phenomenal film. James Cameron raises the stakes. It’s bigger, better and more emotional than ever before. It has gorgeous visuals, thrilling new characters and is a technical marvel. Loved it. pic.twitter.com/XcPKjCvsVL
— Jazz Tangcay (@jazzt) December 2, 2025
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH: Sacrifices much of its predecessor’s enchanted exploration for a more straightforward war narrative and shaky reiterated setup, but Cameron’s ability to viscerally embody the consequences of his characters’ beliefs carries the day; flawed but beautiful.
— Ryan Swen/孫天行/Sun Tien-hsing (@swen_ryan) December 2, 2025
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH delivers the most emotional moments of the franchise and is, by far, the most epic in both scope and runtime, yet it also mines the least amount of new material from covering so much ground. Still, the breathtaking visual effects, world-building, and evolving… pic.twitter.com/JhFGiLyA2j
— Matt Neglia (@NextBestPicture) December 2, 2025
Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025) – the messiest entry has me tempered, despite a thematic thorniness that’s so intriguing. There’s still plenty to be stunned by, including Cameron tapping back into an amorous energy I haven’t seen from him in ages, all due to an excellent Oona Chaplin pic.twitter.com/IgFh2BUxl4
— Giovanni Lago (@TheGiovanniLago) December 2, 2025
#AvatarFireAndAsh: 3 films in, James Cameron still has the sauce, making the epic spectacular feel emotionally impactful. A glorious saga. Bold, brilliant & awesome in every way, this is what movie theaters were built for. Payakan is still my fave, but Varang is the MVP. pic.twitter.com/zs1BjCTYmZ
— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) December 2, 2025
We all thought James Cameron was making his Star Wars, #AvatarFireAndAsh cements it as his Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy (highly complimentary). This is so At World’s End coded & Cameron has fully embraced the anime & video game inspos even more proudly here. A nonstop series… pic.twitter.com/gNDcfFiMT2
— Griffin Schiller (@griffschiller) December 2, 2025
