Product Info

Studio

20th Century Studios

Director

James Cameron

Genre

Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Rated

PG-13

Theatrical Release Date (NA)

Dec 19, 2025

Film Length

3hr 17min

Purchase From

Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third film in the Avatar series by James Cameron, is another remarkable blockbuster that is a must-watch in theaters. The following review contain minor spoilers.

New Faces, Familiar Battles

© 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Fire and Ash takes place after the events of the 2022 film, Avatar: The Way of Water, and continues to follow Jake Sully, portrayed by Sam Worthington (Clash of the Titans, Terminator Salvation), and his family as they live with the Metkayina clan (Water Tribe) after escaping the RDA (Resources Development Administration) in the forest. However, peace doesn’t last long as the RDA continues to hunt down Jake and gather Pandora’s valuable rare mineral, Unobtanium. Jake also has to deal with the aggressive Mangkwan Clan (Ash People) who pose a threat to the Water Tribe and his family’s safety. 

The film begins by allowing viewers to catch up on the plot after Fire and Ash. Spider, played by Jack Champion (Avengers: Endgame, The Night Sitter), is a human living on Pandora with an oxygen mask. When he runs out of spare masks and oxygen, the Sully family embarks on a journey to find more for him. Along the way, they encounter the Ash People, led by Varang, played by Oona Chaplin (The Longest Ride, Game of Thrones), who launch a surprise attack. Jake gets separated from his wife, Neytiri, played by Zoe Saldaña (Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Trek), and the children, including Kiri, played by Sigourney Weaver (Alien, Ghostbusters). He also encounters familiar faces from the RDA, such as Quaritch, played by Stephen Lang (Don’t Breathe, Manhunter). Spider is in danger without oxygen, and Kiri tries to save him by connecting her braided hair to Pandora’s plants, resulting in a magical event where Spider can breathe on Pandora. The RDA discovers this incident and sets out on a new mission to capture Spider.

© 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

This plot is just a glimpse of what’s to come in Fire and Ash. The film delves into different characters’ stories to build up to the climax. Some parts could have been shortened to maintain pacing, such as Lo’ak, played by Britain Dalton (Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Ready Player One), finding the Tulkun, whale-like creatures on Pandora that could provide a big aid for Sully and his group. The film revisits some familiar themes from the first Avatar film, such as battling the RDA, but introduces new elements like capturing Spider and the Ash People. The film, over three hours long, explores specific areas of Pandora but leaves viewers feeling like there is more to uncover. Hopefully Disney will greenlight additional films before Avatar‘s end.

Viewers who skipped The Way of Water can still follow the story of Fire and Ash, but may miss out on some backstory about Jake’s children and the Water Tribe. Returning viewers may find some plots familiar, but should watch the previous film for the full experience of James Cameron’s films.

With a mix of returning and new cast members, Fire and Ash delivers outstanding performances. Sigourney Weaver’s portrayal of a younger character is a fresh take for the actress, and she handles the role well though not her best performance. Sam Worthington continues to shine as Jake Sully, while Zoe Saldaña and Stephen Lang deliver strong performances. Oona Chaplin’s portrayal of the Ash People’s leader is excellent, with her aggressive acting and compelling dialogue with Stephen Lang’s character. Hopefully, audiences will see more of her in future Avatar films.

Going for a Ride

© 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Experience the latest Avatar movie in a Dolby Cinema 3D room. The experience enhances the film’s quality from visuals to sound. James Cameron’s Avatar films have always been best enjoyed in 3D to fully appreciate the stunning visuals and immersive sound experience. This remains true in Fire and Ash. The Na’vi characters continue to look incredibly realistic thanks to revolutionary CGI technology that captures the actors’ motion, facial expressions, and audio to create fully digital characters in Pandora.

The aerial battles give viewers a sense of high altitude as they witness Neytiri fighting against Varang. Scenes of traversing through forests with Jake’s children feel like they are right in front of you. The vibrant cinemagraphs enhance the 3D effects and colorful visuals of Pandora.

However, at times, the depth of field can make it difficult to focus during dialogues between a group of characters, your eyes will want to focus across the screen. With a film that is over three hours long, the experience starts off strong in the beginning, making the 3D and sound experience enjoyable. After awhile, your eyes adjust to the depth, and sometimes you forget it exists until the vibrant colors and scenery change the depth of field.

The soundtrack, composed by Simon Franglen who also worked on previous Avatar films, features scores that elevate the action scenes and add volume to each scene from start to finish. Making that dramatic fight against the Ash People and RDA more fulfilling.

The Final Fire

Avatar: Fire and Ash expands James Cameron’s world of Pandora with its breathtaking 3D visuals, immersive sound, and a story that introduces new threats while avoiding familiar conflicts of Pandora. Despite its lengthy runtime and occasional pacing issues, Fire and Ash contains strong performances, thrilling action scenes, and stunning CGI that make it a powerful theatrical experience, continuing to push the boundaries of blockbuster filmmaking.

An early screening of Avatar: Fire and Ash was provided for this review. Avatar: Fire and Ash will be released in theaters on December 19, 2025. Fans can visit the official website for more information and to purchase tickets.