James Cameron’s 10th film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, doesn’t open for a few more weeks, but the international rollout has begun. Monday night in Los Angeles, CA, the cast and crew appeared at the film’s world premiere, kicking off a massive press tour that will take them all over the globe. So, it seems as if Disney likes the movie. But does everyone else?
Fresh off Monday’s premiere, Disney lifted the social media embargo on the film, and the results are in. For the most part, they’re insanely positive. Here are a few, starting with yours truly.
#AvatarFireAndAsh is so wildly, unfathomably epic, ambitious, and audacious in every single way, you can’t help but forgive that it has some noticeable flaws.
It grabs you and sweeps you up in this snowball of emotion, action, and spectacle as only James Cameron can deliver. pic.twitter.com/iLLDSskFEG
— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) December 2, 2025
I may not be the biggest Avatar superfan, but #AvatarFireAndAsh proves once again that James Cameron can and will always deliver the ultimate cinematic spectacle, pushing visuals and emotion to new heights and redefining what a true blockbuster feels like. It’s bold, immersive,… pic.twitter.com/4P661ymvL5
— Sean Tajipour (@Seantaj) December 2, 2025
James Cameron’s AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH is a phenomenal moviegoing experience. It’s the biggest of the three — action-packed, visually jaw-dropping and rich with themes of family, legacy and survival. The way it weaves fire, water, air and land into every nook and cranny of the film… pic.twitter.com/aNO5xOXs5x
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) December 2, 2025
Three films in and I still can’t get over how magical the #Avatar movies are. Wish I had more original phrasing, but this applies too well — #AvatarFireAndAsh truly feels like a ride. I couldn’t believe how quickly I was pulled back into the world of Pandora and swept up in the… pic.twitter.com/TdmAxp4ELQ
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) December 2, 2025
With #AvatarFireAndAsh master storyteller and visionary filmmaker James Cameron again delivers a hyperreal experience that is emotional and exhilarating. Repeatedly and exhaustively raising its own bar, this is an audacious feast that delivers more than anyone ordered. #Avatar pic.twitter.com/RrkGINBrpO
— Simon Thompson (@ShowbizSimon) December 2, 2025
#AvatarFireAndAsh is a visual masterpiece. If you love these movies, it’s more of the same, but story-wise, it’s the same “capture/rescue” plot over and over again with some laughable dialogue thrown in the middle. The runtime is criminal, and if you have eye issues, avoid the 3D pic.twitter.com/p8ou1mI25c
— Kaitlyn Booth (@katiesmovies) December 2, 2025
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH is overstuffed with a lot of plot, further dragged down by repeating familiar beats from the previous entries. But Cameron still delivers amazing spectacle, with an intriguing darker tone. There’s novel concepts here I wish were more thoroughly explored. pic.twitter.com/O6Q6fn7iT2
— Josh Parham (@JRParham) December 2, 2025
#AvatarFireAndAsh: 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 theaters were built for. Payakan is still my fave, but Varang is the MVP. pic.twitter.com/zs1BjCTYmZ
— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) December 2, 2025
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH is the first James Cameron sequel that feels kinda like a regular follow-up rather than an innovative re-envisioning of its predecessor’s world. It also just casually drops ~3-4 of the best/coolest action sequences of the year and I was rapt the whole time.
— Jesse Hassenger (@rockmarooned) December 2, 2025
Avatar: Fire and Ash is gorgeous to look at & certainly has its moments, but it falls into the same trap of repetition as the previous films. Lots of set up for little payoff, but at least we get some great action sequences. Varang is a fun new addition. Far too long. #Avatar pic.twitter.com/fFAd6M6Qrd
— Tessa Smith – Mama’s Geeky (@MamasGeeky) December 2, 2025
Avatar: Fire and Ash has some fun action set pieces but boy if it isn’t mostly a repetitive bore. Virtually identical to The Way of Water and feels pointless. Liked the legacy Oona Chaplin brought but a pretty generic villain. These movies also never need to be three hours long. pic.twitter.com/DOIh25gIDC
— Erik Anderson (@awards_watch) December 2, 2025
As you can see, there are all sorts of different takes, but, for the most part, it’s a positive spin. The full review embargo doesn’t break until closer to release, which is when everyone can get into a bit more detail. But, going off my personal tweet, I do think Fire and Ash has a few noticeable issues compared to the previous films. This one has so much more to fit in that it can, at times, feel a little disjointed. Plus, there are several scenes that repeat huge moments we’ve seen in the previous films. That can be a little frustrating for a franchise so known for innovation.
But, as I also mentioned, it basically doesn’t matter. Cameron really goes for it all here, not just in the size and scope of the storytelling, but also in the set pieces and seemingly weird, random, dark places the movie goes. It’s often quite jaw-dropping, and by the end, flaws aside, it’s a wild, memorable ride.
We’ll have more on Avatar: Fire and Ash in the coming days, including interviews with Cameron, the cast, and more. Plus, a review, spoilers, and all that good stuff when we get closer to December 19. Are you excited for the film? Do you trust these reactions? Let us know below.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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