'Avatar: Fire And Ash' Early X Reviews: Fans Call It 'The Ultimate Spectacle', Critics Are Divided

After the global success of Avatar (2009) and Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), James Cameron is back with the highly anticipated third instalment in the series, and this time, it’s more intense. Avatar: Fire and Ash is all set to hit global theatres this holiday season, and it has already got the internet buzzing. Early viewers are hailing the film as a “breathtaking spectacle” packed with emotion and action, but it is once again drawing familiar criticism for its occasional narrative overload and length. Here’s an early breakdown of what to expect in this much-awaited third chapter in James Cameron’s alien fantasy film series.

The plot of Fire and Ash: A new threat looms over Pandora

Avatar: Fire and Ash picks up in the aftermath of The Way of Water, with the Sully family reeling from the death of ‘Jake Sully’ (Sam Worthington) and ‘Neytiri's’ (Zoe Saldana) son, ‘Neteyam’ (Jamie Flatters). As they navigate this grief, a new danger looms over Pandora: the Ash People, a furious volcanic tribe that has turned its back on Eywa. Their leader, ‘Varang’ (played by Oona Chaplin), brings in a ruthless force that challenges humanity. 

At the same time, the Wind Traders (Pandora’s more peaceful clan) add another layer of tension as tribal alliances start to shift. As the story unfolds, the film delves into a dense political landscape where long-standing clan fractures widen as the Ash People gain power.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the resurrected ‘Colonel Miles Quaritch’ (Stephen Lang) reenters the conflict, appearing in white, black, and red warpaint, a look that hints he may have aligned himself with the volcanic Ash People. His return complicates everything, raising the stakes for the Sully family and Pandora as a whole, leaving young ‘Spider’ (Jack Champion) in more jeopardy than ever.

What early viewers are saying

Avatar: Fire and Ash premiered at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on December 1, 2025, marking its global debut. After the huge success of the world premiere, fans and critics have already flooded social media with rave reviews about Cameron’s ambitious storytelling and technical brilliance. Film critic Courtney Howard praised the film’s scale and emotion, writing on X:

“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 theatres were built for.”

One user described the film as an “emotionally powerful, terrifically directed and visually incredible movie”, with “some of the most compelling storytelling and action of the series yet”. A second user noted that this instalment of the series “feels more rewarding and more of a payoff to storylines from the previous two films. Some great action setpieces punctuate all of it” with spectacular visuals. 

Critics say Avatar 3 is Way of Water 2.0, and some question the lengthy runtime

Though the reviews are largely positive, some critics have noted that Fire and Ash can feel like a flashy, expensive rehash of earlier chapters. The story drew mixed reactions, but the visuals did not. Even skeptical viewers admitted the CGI is astonishing, with some calling it probably the “best CGI ever put on screen.” One X user wrote:

“#AvatarFireAndAsh is like reheated leftovers. Flashy, expensive leftovers — but still leftovers…  We learn a thing or two about Pandora, and the new blue aliens in red paint are bad, obviously… The story feels like a repetitive, copy-paste bore. If Way of Water had a lot of — well, water.”

Several early viewers have raised questions regarding an issue the Avatar franchise is familiar with: the runtime. Fire and Ash is even longer than The Way of Water, with a 3-hour and 17-minute runtime, which many felt was unnecessary. 

What’s next for the Avatar franchise?

The first Avatar arrived in 2009 and became the highest-grossing film of all time with USD 2.9 billion worldwide. Its sequel, The Way of Water (2022), followed closely behind, earning USD 2.4 billion and becoming the third-highest-grossing movie ever. Now James Cameron returns with Fire and Ash, releasing December 19, 2025, just before Christmas.

With a budget of USD 250 million and a runtime of 197 minutes, Fire and Ash is designed as another massive theatrical experience. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Cameron has planned five films total. Avatar 4 arrives December 21, 2029, and Avatar 5 on December 19, 2031.

Are you excited to witness yet another James Cameron spectacle in the theatres this holiday? Let us know!

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