Avatar: Fire and Ash early trailer reactions brand it ‘best film of the year’
The trailer for James Cameron's new Avatar film is imminent.
The trailer for James Cameron’s highly anticipated threequel Avatar: Fire and Ash has early viewers hailing it as ‘the biggest movie of 2025’, ‘breathtaking’ and visually ‘phenomenal’.
Avatar 3 isn’t scheduled to arrive in cinemas until December, but the filmmaker is ready to create some early buzz for the next instalment in his epic big-budget sci-fi franchise.
‘As stunning as anyone is anticipating,’ tweeted film critic Austin Burke, who also noted that ‘the visuals are (somehow) on another level’.
‘There is no doubt in my mind that this WILL be the biggest movie of 2025, and epic doesn’t feel like it does this trailer justice…’
Meanwhile, @TheOscarRace simply announced, ‘It’s going to be the best film of the year’, while ScreenRant’s @LiamTCrowley admitted he was ‘breathless’.
‘What a privilege it is to be alive during this revolutionary franchise,’ he added.
Avatar 3’s major new addition is Varang (Oona Chaplin), who steals the show in the trailer alongside breathtaking visuals from James Cameron and his team (Picture: 20th Century Studios/Disney)‘It looks so damn good. Even more fantastical world building on display. The Ash People look menacing and have intriguing environmental designs,’ shared Rendy Jones, adding: ‘The story feels grander and more intense than Way of Water.’
Shot back-to-back with 2022’s Avatar: The Way of Water, Fire and Ash sees the return of a sprawling cast including Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winslet, Stephen Lang, Jack Champion, Bailey Bass and Britain Dalton, plus new additions Oona Chaplin, Michelle Yeoh and David Thewlis.
Comment nowAre you looking forward to Avatar: Fire and Ash? What are your hopes?Comment NowSecretly screened exclusively for journalists and tastemakers by Disney earlier this week, the first look at Avatar: Fire and Ash will be released online on Monday July 28 – or available to watch ahead of Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps when it hits cinemas on Friday.
‘A visually astounding promise of another thrilling return to Pandora. Breathtaking cinematography, powerful action, and a euphoric musical score,’ praised Jonathan Sim. ‘3D has never looked this good.’
I have seen the trailer for #AVATAR Fire and Ash, and it is as stunning as anyone is anticipating. James Cameron once again looks to be unleashing a powerful story that will resonate, and the visuals are (somehow) on another level. There is no doubt in my mind that this WILL be… Austin Burke (@theBurk3nator) July 21, 2025
I just EXPERIENCED the #AvatarFireAndAsh trailer in glorious 3D. I'm breathless. Visuals expectedly surreal but man is the Ash People's landscape something to behold. Pandora Civil War loading. What a privilege it is to be alive during this revolutionary franchise. @screenrant Liam (@LiamTCrowley) July 21, 2025
Had a sneak peek at the AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH trailer last night (in 3D) – and James Cameron has me convinced all over again. Phenomenal. Tremendous visuals, new antagonist Varang may become my next obsession. Nothing convinced me #Avatar 3 won't be bigger and better than the last Tori Brazier (@dinotaur) July 23, 2025
Saw the #AvatarFireandAsh trailer in 3D. It looks so damn good. Even more fantastical world building on display. The Ash People look menacing and have intriguing environmental designs. The story feels grander and more intense than WAY OF WATER. Quaritch v. Sully rematch tease! Rendy Jones (@rendy_jones) July 21, 2025
#AvatarFireAndAsh trailer is MARVELOUS.A visually astounding promise of another thrilling return to Pandora. Breathtaking cinematography, powerful action, and a euphoric musical score.Dark and delightful. 3D has never looked this good. Jonathan Sim (@TheJonathanSim) July 21, 2025
‘With the #AvatarFireAndAsh trailer, James Cameron pushes the potential of 3D beyond the realms of what we’ve seen before, even from him and teases a beautifully vibrant, action-packed and illustrious visual odyssey in the Avatar saga,’ enthused @TomMCJL.
‘Nobody is touching Cameron visually. The next Avatar looks amazing,’ posted Kit Stone.
Others had exciting comparisons for the film on the strength of the first trailer alone.
‘It’s insane we’re getting Last of the Mohicans meets like Empire Strikes Back!’ suggested @MOVIEDEATHS. ‘Giant action set pieces somehow the visuals look even better than Way of Water [sic].’
Avatar: Fire And Ash sees Jake (Worthington) and Neytiri’s (Saldaña) family grappling with grief in the wake of the death of son Neteyam (Jamie Flatters) as conflict between the RDA and the Pandorans escalates after the Na’vi and Metikayina clan’s hard-won victory at the end of Avatar: The Way of Water.
Call me Ash cuz that trailer was Fire ????. Those 3D glasses made me feel like I was in Pandora, almost too close. Nobody is touching Cameron visually. The next Avatar looks amazing. And I have no idea what it’s about. Perfect trailer. Give us nothing, Jim! #AvatarFireAndAsh Kit Stone (@bykitstone) July 22, 2025
With the #AvatarFireAndAsh trailer, James Cameron pushes the potential of 3D beyond the realms of what we've seen before, even from him & teases a beautifully vibrant, action-packed & illustrious visual odyssey in the Avatar Saga.Our glimpse into the family driven story… TomMCJL ✨ (@TomMCJL) July 22, 2025
Just saw the AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH trailer in 3D on the big screen, and it looks like James Cameron’s third chapter in this epic saga is set to deliver once again! The trailer leans heavily on the stunning visuals, giving us glimpses of the new volcanic environments on Pandora &… Matt Neglia (@NextBestPicture) July 21, 2025
The newly-introduced Ash People also promise to bring more conflict, thanks to their aggressive and fiery leader Varang (Chaplin); Cameron first teased them in January 2023, saying that he was featuring ‘different cultures from those I have already shown’ and that he plans ‘to show the Na’vi from another angle because, so far, I have only shown their good sides’.
‘In the early films, there are very negative human examples and very positive Na’vi examples. In Avatar 3 we will do the opposite. We will also explore new worlds, while continuing the story of the main characters,’ he explained to French publication 20 Minutes, via Total Film:
@tori_brazierI saw the first trailer for James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash today and ooh boy it’s gorgeous and apparently I’m all in again ????????♀️ Thanks to @Disney UK for the sneak peek! It will be in cinemas with The Fantastic Four: First Steps on Fri 25/07 and online on Mon 28/07 ???????????? #avatar3 #avatar #jamescameron #filmtok #filmjournalist
♬ original sound – Tori B | Film Critic‘I can say that the last parts will be the best. The others were an introduction, a way to set the table before serving the meal.’
Chaplin’s Varang is a scene-stealer in the trailer, suggesting an intimidating appearance, before she is shown warning Weaver’s Kiri in menacing tones: ‘Your goddess has no dominion here.’
Thanks to the success of Avatar: The Way of Water, which is currently the third highest grossing film ever behind the first Avatar – having made over $2.3million at the box office – we will also get Avatar 4 and 5.
But not until December 2029 and December 2031, respectively.
Avatar: Fire and Ash releases in cinemas on December 19, 2025.
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Comment now Are you looking forward to Avatar: Fire and Ash? What are your hopes?
