James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash Receives Franchise’s Harshest Reviews Yet

James Cameron ’s newest entry in the Avatar saga, Fire and Ash, has become a hot topic—not for its box office numbers, but for its critical reception. While Cameron’s name is usually synonymous with cinematic triumph, this latest installment has landed at the bottom of his directorial rankings, at least when it comes to reviews. If you set aside Piranha II, a film Cameron himself has distanced from, Fire and Ash now holds the lowest critical score in his career.

Critical Scores and Comparisons

Fire and Ash currently sits at 69% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on over 200 critic reviews. The site’s consensus notes,

“Remaining on the cutting edge of visual effects, Fire and Ash repeats the narrative beats of its predecessors to frustrating effect, but its grand spectacle continues to stoke one-of-a-kind thrills.”

For comparison, the original Avatar scored 81%, and its sequel, The Way of Water, earned 76%. Cameron’s highest-rated film remains Aliens, which boasts a 94% score. Here’s how his movies stack up by Rotten Tomatoes rating:

1. Aliens – 94%
2. Terminator 2: Judgment Day – 91%
3. The Terminator – 90%
4. Titanic – 88%
5. Aliens of the Deep – 84%
6. Avatar – 81%
7. Ghost of the Abyss – 80%
8. True Lies – 77%
9. The Abyss – 76%
10. Avatar: The Way of Water – 76%
11. Avatar: Fire and Ash – 69%

On Metacritic, Fire and Ash holds a 62 out of 100, based on 50 critic reviews. Despite its $400 million-plus budget, making it one of the most expensive films ever made, the movie ’s reception has been mixed.

Mixed Reactions from Critics

Reviewers have praised the film’s visuals, action, and character work, but many found fault with its straightforward plot. Some critics felt the story lacked emotional depth, though Oona Chaplin’s portrayal of Varang stood out as a highlight. Returning cast members also received positive mentions for their performances.

Not all feedback was positive. Nicholas Barber from BBC described it as the

“longest and worst”

of the Avatar films, adding that it looked

“unrealistic and un-immersive as an old arcade game.”

Peter Bradshaw at The Guardian called it

“a gigantically dull hunk of nonsense,”

while David Ehrlich from IndieWire said watching it felt like seeing

“one of cinema ’s greatest explorers walk in circles for three hours.”

On the other hand, Ross Bonaime at Collider acknowledged the film didn’t match the impact of its predecessors but still called it

“an exceptional moviegoing experience that proves there’s still plenty of gas in this tank.”

FandomWire’s Matt Hambidge described it as

“the best, most emotional Avatar yet,”

noting that Cameron infused the third entry with heavy emotion and personal stakes.

Story and Franchise Expansion

Fire and Ash shifts the focus from the familiar Na’vi versus human conflict to the internal struggles among Pandora ’s native clans. The film introduces the Tlalim, or Wind Traders, and the Mangkwan, known as the Ash People. This time, the narrative explores the darker aspects of Pandora, with the title’s “Fire & Ash” symbolizing cycles of violence and loss. Cameron explained,

I don’t think I could say too much about it until you actually see the film and you see what it means, but if you think of fire as hatred, anger, violence, that sort of thing, and ash is the aftermath. So what’s the aftermath? Grief, loss, right? And then what does that cause in the future? More violence, more anger, more hatred. It’s a vicious cycle. So that’s the thinking.

Returning stars Zoe Saldaña and Sam Worthington reprise their roles as Neytiri and Jake Sully, with Oona Chaplin joining as Varang, leader of the Ash People. The cast also features Sigourney Weaver, Britain Dalton, Jack Champion, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, Edie Falco, Brendan Cowell, Matt Gerald, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Bailey Bass, Jemaine Clement, and David Thewlis.

Box Office and Future Plans

The original Avatar remains the highest-grossing film ever, earning $2.9 billion, while The Way of Water brought in $2.3 billion, ranking third all-time. Cameron has two more sequels in the pipeline, with Avatar 4 scheduled for December 21, 2029, and Avatar 5 set for December 19, 2031. Fire and Ash is now playing in theaters as of December 19, 2025.