Avatar: Fire and Ash Movie Review

Released: 19th December 2025 (UK and US)

Length: 197 Minutes

Certificate: 12A

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Oona Chaplin, Britain Dalton and Jack Champion

Returning to the masses in 2022, James Cameron’s Avatar set out to dominate the decade with its gargantuan sci-fi action and stunning presentation. With Avatar: Fire and Ash, we’ve reached the mid-point of this five-chapter saga; while still thoroughly entertaining, things have taken a step down.

Shortly after The Way of Water, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), Neyteri (Zoe Saldana), and their children continue their struggle against the sky people. While hitching a ride with airborne Na’Vi traders, the group comes under attack from a rogue clan who turned feral after their home was burned. Their leader Varang (Oona Chaplin) is smitten by the RDA’s destructive raids and the two foes team up to hammer down on our heroes. Transitioning between many characters and many locations, Fire and Ash once again pulls us into the world of Pandora. It’s another three-hour epic, but the film is able to keep you invested; thanks to a potent mix of action, dialogue and breath-taking sights, Fire and Ash rarely drags. The problem comes with the sheer number of plot threads and their overarching breadth. There are simply too many characters from both sides of the conflict and not enough material for the cast to flesh out their roles. The main characters, particularly Lo’ak (Britain Dalton), Spider (Jack Champion) and Kiri (Sigourney Weaver, all get reasonable arcs as they build their connections to the planet and its wildlife, but others feel insignificant by comparison. The water tribe in particular is short-changed as the film skips over their grief in the more tender moments. There are clear hints as to where this story may be going with seeds planted for future entries; whether Avatar can keep up the momentum remains to be seen.

The dialogue may still be clunky at times, but every leading member of the cast continues to do solid work. Fire and Ash does take the time to let the major characters interact and there is genuine conflict between them here. Jake and Neyteri are still grieving over the loss of their eldest son while trying to find a way forward, Spider and Kiri grow closer to both each other and Pandora’s mythical goddess and Lo’ak cries foul at the ostracising of his friend Tulken. In many ways you do feel the pressure bearing down on the Na’Vi, but it does come at the expense of the new characters. Varang is a great addition to the cast and Oona Chaplin delivers a visceral performance, but over time she ends up playing second fiddle to Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang); his character swings back and forth, though keeping him around from the last two films may have been a mistake. Other haphazard faces stick out like sore thumbs. There’s a marine biologist who embarks on an unexpected rebellion against the RDA, but he’s never seen again for the rest of the film after an escape sequence. Avatar 3 needed to go all the way with its new additions; instead it falls short on this front, leaving us wanting for the next two films.

You certainly won’t be disappointed by the spectacle; Avatar continues to offer the most dazzling sights of any big-name blockbuster. It alternates between land, air and sea with no dip in extravagance with a huge range of visual effects coalescing perfectly. As the title implies, the destructive power of both Varang’s clan and humanity is emphasised with raging firestorms and frequent destruction from explosive ordinance. While it does go underused, the shadow of a large volcano hangs over the fire clan, a perfect match for their savagery. The choking refineries of the human city contrast brilliantly with the beautiful landscapes and the clash between technology and nature remains at the centre of the franchise. Of course the 3D is once again spectacular, creating an absorbing backdrop that no other film can match. Pandora remains a sight to behold, though this time familiarity creeps in. For the climax, Fire and Ash mashes together the action of its predecessors with both air and water-based combat. It’s not an exact copy, but many audiences will feel things are starting to get samey. What’s here is intense and heart-pounding, but the filmmakers should have done more with different settings. The same goes for the music which mostly relies on older beats and a couple of new tracks for the fire clan.

Avatar: Fire and Ash remains the very best at what it does; stunning technical details, furious action and unparalleled immersion, but the sheer scale is starting to press down on the story and characters. Unavoidable contrivances and repetition creep in, putting this third entry below its predecessors. If this story is to continue, more ambitious steps and a full embrace of newer elements are needed.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars (Good)