Michael Mann Reveals His Surprising Top Movie Pick for 2025
Michael Mann calls "Avatar: Fire and Ash" his top film of 2025, applauding its creativity and realism despite mixed critical reception and blockbuster earnings.
2025 brought a wave of standout films, from Weapons and Sinners to The Secret Agent, One Battle After Another, Train Dreams, and Bugonia . Yet, for acclaimed director Michael Mann, one title soared above the rest. While critics had their own favorites, Mann’s choice was unexpected: the three-hour-plus epic Avatar: Fire and Ash . Given his track record with films like Thief, Collateral, and The Insider, his opinion carries weight, even if it raises a few eyebrows.
Debuting in December, the third installment of the Avatar saga didn’t make a huge splash at first. Despite lukewarm reviews, it raked in over a billion dollars worldwide. It’s now the 39th highest-grossing movie ever, continuing James Cameron ’s saga of the Na’avi—those towering, blue-skinned beings who soar on dragon-like creatures. For some, the story might seem outlandish, but the film ’s commercial success is undeniable.
Michael Mann’s Take on Cameron’s Vision
Mann was thoroughly impressed, sharing with Variety:
“Jim Cameron’s third Avatar: Fire and Ash is a massive achievement. The towering originality of Jim’s visualization is a given; what makes Fire and Ash so potent is its believability.”
He went on to say,
“No writer-director I can think of has invented as large a three-dimensional world of his own imagining as has Jim. Fire and Ash, on its own, is an incredible achievement. From some point in the future, when regarded historically, the whole of Avatar will be seen as the magnum opus it truly is.”
Mann’s praise is high, even if the film’s premise—giant blue aliens on a distant moon—stretches the imagination.
Looking Ahead: Heat 2 and Cameron’s Next Steps
While Avatar fans have more to look forward to, with the fifth and final film slated for 2031, Mann himself is moving ahead with a project that has his own fans buzzing. Plans for Heat 2 are picking up steam. The sequel to his iconic crime thriller, based on his 2022 novel, is set to feature a star-studded cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Adam Driver, Christian Bale, Austin Butler, and Bradley Cooper. Mann is expected to return to the director’s chair for this highly anticipated follow-up.
Meanwhile, James Cameron has taken a brief detour from Pandora. He recently directed a concert film capturing Billie Eilish’s latest tour, Hit Me Hard and Soft. True to form, Cameron didn’t just film the pop sensation—he shot the entire experience in 3D, offering fans a new way to relive the concert, glasses and all.