--- title: "Avatar: Fire and Ash: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/avatar-fire-and-ash/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/avatar-fire-and-ash" critics_score: 57 critics_reviews: 14 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025): what the critics said Critics' score 57 from 14 reviews: 6 positive, 3 mixed, 5 negative. The reviews split widely, from raves to flat dismissals, and the split is about story rather than craft. Almost every critic agrees the spectacle is the draw: the 3D, the fire-lit volcanic landscapes and the land, sea and sky battles are described as immersive and technically superb, and Oona Chaplin’s Varang is repeatedly singled out as the freshest thing in it. The reservations cluster just as tightly. Most critics find the plot a rerun of the second film, with a family drama that runs long, dialogue that clunks and battles that repeat until fatigue sets in. The Guardian and The Telegraph call it dull and creatively stuck; The Wrap finds its anti-corporate message undercut by its own origins. The dissenters in the other direction are notable: /Film calls it the best of the series, while Polygon and The Ringer argue the Spider storyline gives it a heart the sceptics miss. The consensus is admiration for the machine and boredom with the script. ## Evening Standard — Nick Howells Rating 4/5. 17 December 2025. The technical spectacle and 3D immersion are unsurpassed, plunging viewers into relentless action and a phosphorescent world, though the familiar story of tribal conflicts and earnest themes lacks sophistication. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/avatar-fire-and-ash-review-james-cameron-sam-worthington-zoe-saldana-b1262787.html) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 16 December 2025. The critic finds it the richest and craziest of the Avatar films, with Cameron fully indulging his vision and remixing his motifs in an expertly realized, never-boring spectacle. They single out the freewheeling earnestness and the tactile, vivid world of Pandora for praise. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/james-cameron-lets-his-freak-flag-fly-in-avatar-fire-and-ash.html) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 18 December 2025. The critic finds the film a dizzying overload of new creatures, landscapes, melodramatic plots and battles that ultimately produces whiplash rather than transport. Cameron’s signature mix of pulp and poetry is on display but fails to cohere here. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/movies/avatar-fire-and-ash-review.html) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 16 December 2025. The critic finds the third Avatar film a gigantically dull and uninteresting spectacle that fails to deliver an emotional arc despite its volcanic world-building and action. The new character Varang adds a witchy sex interest but cannot salvage the repetitive, impervious franchise entry. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/dec/16/avatar-fire-and-ash-review-james-cameron) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 16 December 2025. The critic views it as the most repetitious entry in the series, with fatigue setting in despite the spectacle and Oona Chaplin's standout witchy villainy. They single out the lack of fresh narrative inspiration and risible dialogue for complaint. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/avatar-fire-and-ash-review-james-cameron-sam-worthington-1236450205/) ## The i Paper — Sarah Carson Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 17 December 2025. The film is interminable and repetitive with a thin plot full of clichés, relying on flashy 3D effects and battles that feel like a theme-park ride rather than meaningful cinema or storytelling. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/survived-avatar-3-no-one-should-4082580) ## The Telegraph Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 16 December 2025. The critic describes the film as mind-numbing and stuck in a creative cul-de-sac, with repetitive elements like pterodactyl races and bioluminescent scenes that add little new to the franchise despite its visual scale. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2025/12/16/avatar-fire-and-ash-film-review/) ## Empire — Ben Travis 16 December 2025. Cameron escalates the family drama and action with new villains and spectacular battles, delivering the most ambitious and immersive Avatar yet despite some repetitive plotting and length. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/avatar-fire-and-ash/) ## Financial Times — Danny Leigh Rating ★★☆☆☆. 16 December 2025. The critic notes narrative burnout in the franchise but praises the visual spectacle, 3D clarity, and Oona Chaplin’s charismatic performance as the gun-crazed witch Varang amid the formulaic story. [Read the review](https://www.ft.com/content/eac6f81d-548f-4e63-bb2e-6a3b99bb234d) ## Los Angeles Times — Amy Nicholson 16 December 2025. The critic praises the dynamite new villains, especially Varang and Quaritch, and the surreal details of Pandora but complains that the recycled eco-warrior plot and overlong family drama make it feel like a home movie. Cameron’s affection for the world remains a draw despite narrative repetition. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2025-12-16/avatar-fire-ash-review-sam-worthington-zoe-saldana-sigourney-weaver-stephen-lang-james-cameron) ## Radio Times — James Mottram Rating ★★★★☆. 16 December 2025. The critic praises the bold, brash return to Pandora with its full-on conflict, standout new antagonist Varang, and immersive 3D visuals, calling it a marvel of CG craftsmanship despite the length and simplistic message. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/app/avatar-fire-and-ash-review-yet-another-marvel-of-cg-craftsmanship-from-james-cameron/) ## Screen Daily 16 December 2025. The critic describes it as a thrilling, immersive journey that is visually extraordinary and stronger in engagement than predecessors, highlighting Cameron’s mastery of spectacle and fresh visual details while noting clunky dialogue as a lingering weakness. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/avatar-fire-and-ash-review-james-camerons-third-trip-to-pandora-is-thrilling-immersive-journey/5211689.article) ## Sight and Sound 8 December 2025. The critic calls it a big, goofy spectacle more concerned with scale than sophistication, noting its draggier structure of repeated battles while praising Cameron's commitment to emotional and technological development of characters and the power of matriarchy theme. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/avatar-fire-ash-big-goofy-spectacle-that-wears-its-heart-its-sleeve) ## The Times Rating ★★☆☆☆. 19 December 2025. The critic criticizes the lazy rehash of previous films with added erotica via the new character Varang, finding the Mangkwan Na’vi and fire theme simplistic and the overall effort uninspired. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/avatar-fire-and-ash-review-vvfgn79jc) ## Total Film — Jordan Farley 16 December 2025. It remains a technical marvel with some of the year's best action filmmaking, delivering on spectacle and immersion even amid franchise familiarity. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/movies/reviews/avatar-fire-and-ash-review) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman 16 December 2025. The critic calls it bolder and tighter than the second film with awesome action sequences and amazements, though it no longer feels visually unprecedented. The story and characters work fine but the franchise risks feeling like reruns. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/avatar-fire-and-ash-review-james-cameron-1236605109/) ## /Film — Bill Bria Rating 10/10. 16 December 2025. The critic calls it the best Avatar film yet, praising its conceptual depth, emotional resonance, and spectacular action set pieces like the Windtraders sequence. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/2052082/avatar-fire-and-ash-review/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 16 December 2025. The critic hails the film as a thrilling, intense 3-hour-plus war epic and visual knockout that expands the Pandora universe with land, sea and sky action. Exceptional performances, especially from the leads and supporting cast in performance capture, are singled out for making the characters feel authentic and emotionally engaging. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2025/12/avatar-fire-and-ash-review-james-cameron-third-trip-pandora-1236649641/) ## Polygon — Matt Patches Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 16 December 2025. The critic lauds the film's technical spectacle and emotional family drama as a rebuke to AI-generated content, emphasizing human-crafted nuance in performances and set pieces. They highlight the Sully family's moral dilemmas around Spider and the satisfying narrative closure. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/avatar-fire-ash-review/) ## The Ringer — Miles Surrey Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 22 December 2025. The review centers on Spider as the franchise's emotional linchpin, crediting Cameron with making the character's goofy arc compelling through themes of identity, belonging, and family bonds. It praises the heartfelt ethical dilemmas and the way personal stakes elevate the story despite some silliness. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2025/12/22/movies/avatar-fire-and-ash-review-spider-quaritch-james-cameron) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 3/5. 16 December 2025. The critic praises the film's visual splendor and immersive spectacle as an aesthetic triumph that overwhelms the senses, but criticizes its shallow, repetitive story and lack of thematic depth or novelty after three films. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/avatar-fire-and-ash-review-james-cameron-shallow/) ## NME — Matt Maytum Rating 3/5. 17 December 2025. The critic highlights the impressive VFX, 3D, and action set pieces as must-see spectacle but notes the film retreads familiar ground, suffers from episodic plotting and repetition, and feels like it is running out of steam. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/avatar-fire-and-ash-review-james-cameron-sam-worthington-3918856) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 16 December 2025. The critic finds the sequel repetitive and hypocritical, essentially rehashing the previous film's structure and character arcs with less novelty and impact despite the visual spectacle. The film's messaging on capitalism and environmental themes is undermined by its own corporate origins and padded storytelling. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/avatar-fire-and-ash-review-james-cameron/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/avatar-fire-and-ash.md