‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Lands Lowest Rotten Tomatoes Score in Franchise History
James Cameron’s latest installment in the Avatar saga, Avatar: Fire and Ash, has arrived in theaters and is already making waves online. The film, the third in the franchise, follows Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) and continues the story of Pandora with returning stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, and Sigourney Weaver.
New additions to the cast include Oona Chaplin and David Thewlis. The movie is produced by Lightstorm Entertainment and distributed by 20th Century Studios.
From Director James Cameron, watch the trailer for Avatar: Fire and Ash.
— Avatar (@officialavatar) July 28, 2025
Experience the film only in theaters December 19. pic.twitter.com/Y0D4EUGU7x
Early reactions from critics are mixed. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has earned 68% positive reviews from 91 critics, marking the lowest score in the franchise so far. Metacritic gives it a 61 out of 100, reflecting generally favorable reviews. Critics praise the film’s visual effects and scale, calling it a cinematic spectacle and praising Cameron’s continued push of 3D filmmaking.
However, not all feedback is positive. Some reviewers note that the story can feel repetitive and overly long, with a runtime of over three hours making parts of the movie feel exhausting.
While the visuals are widely admired, pacing and storytelling have drawn criticism. Observers also point out that the film continues the franchise’s familiar formula of blending groundbreaking effects with strong messaging, but that some elements may feel overextended for newcomers.
For long-time fans, it represents a compelling new chapter; for newcomers, it remains a visually arresting invitation, albeit one that benefits from familiarity with the franchise’s long and layered history.
Linda Marric
Not surprisingly for a film that stretches to three hours and 17 minutes, the pacing, despite the surfeit of action, has all the breakneck oomph you’d expect from an Antiques Roadshow marathon.
Donald Clarke
This is three hours and 15 minutes of unsurpassed cinematic pyrotechnics. Cameron has taken 3D cinema to another wild dimension with a gloriously intense experience that will, frankly, leave you deliriously exhausted.
Nick Howells
While The Way of Water’s 192 minutes didn’t so much breeze by as they gently floated, the crushing heft of Fire and Ash can be felt far too often, pushing the entire endeavour past the brink of exhaustion.
Barry Hertz
What really feels like Cameron’s daredevil creative risk is his insistence on treating the impossible like it’s mundane, like the sight of all 9-foot-5 inches of Quaritch casually chilling out in a hoodie
Amy Nicholson
Three movies in, the formula remains: groundbreaking computer effects, a blunt attempt at anti-colonial messaging, the onset of the glazed stare often found on ultra-long-haul flights.
Danny Leigh
Despite these criticisms, the movie is still recognized as an impressive technical achievement. Fans who have followed the series for years are likely to appreciate the depth and continuity of the story, while new viewers might find it visually striking but challenging to fully grasp without prior knowledge of the series.
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