Is the review embargo for Avatar: Fire and Ash delaying critic opinions on purpose? Critics saw the movie starting December 1, 2025, but full reviews cannot appear until December 16, just three days before its December 19 release. This setup has sparked talk about whether studios like 20th Century Studios are holding back opinions to build hype or protect box office chances. Check out details at https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/11/19/avatar-fire-and-ash-starts-screening-for-critics-on-december-1.
James Cameron’s third Avatar film, titled Fire and Ash, had its world premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on December 1. Press screenings kicked off that same day, with many critics attending early morning showings. Social media reactions came out fast, as the embargo for those lifted on December 2 at 1:30 a.m. But the stricter review embargo stays in place until December 16. This means no full critic reviews or scores on sites like Rotten Tomatoes until then. More on the timeline here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar:_Fire_and_Ash.
Why such a late lift? Embargoes are common in Hollywood to control the flow of buzz. For big releases like this three-hour-plus PG-13 epic, studios often time reviews to hit right before opening weekend. Avatar: Fire and Ash aims for Oscar nods, including Best Picture, so positive word-of-mouth from fans matters more than early critic pans. Early social media posts call it mixed, with some saying it feels like Way of Water 2.0, bloated, or not fresh enough. One ranking site notes warning signs, like no music awards buzz yet, dropping it to 15th for Best Picture odds. See reactions at https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/12/2/avatar-fire-and-ash-first-reactions-are-muxed and rankings at https://scriptophile551675913.wordpress.com/2025/12/12/best-picture-power-rankings-december-2025-edition/.
Is it on purpose to delay bad news? No hard proof exists of a plot to hide negativity. The film faced nine delays over years, from strikes to VFX work, landing on December 19. Box office trackers expect a $100 million to $110 million opening, solid but below Way of Water’s $134 million debut. Holiday legs could boost it, as Avatar films thrive on repeat viewings. Critics screenings were still rolling as late as November 28 in some reports. Oscar watchers wait for December 16 to see if it climbs or falls. Details on predictions at https://www.awardsdaily.com/2025/11/28/2026-oscar-predictions-nobody-knows-anything/ and box office at https://scottmendelson.substack.com/p/box-office-avatar-fire-and-ash-can-open-well-below-star-wars-avengers.
Fans dubbed Avatards praise the visuals, while others question if Cameron, now 71, should move on after nearly 20 years on this saga. The stakes are high after Way of Water’s $2.3 billion haul made it 2022’s top earner.
Sources
https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/11/19/avatar-fire-and-ash-starts-screening-for-critics-on-december-1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar:_Fire_and_Ash
https://scriptophile551675913.wordpress.com/2025/12/12/best-picture-power-rankings-december-2025-edition/
https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/12/2/avatar-fire-and-ash-first-reactions-are-muxed
https://www.awardsdaily.com/2025/11/28/2026-oscar-predictions-nobody-knows-anything/
https://scottmendelson.substack.com/p/box-office-avatar-fire-and-ash-can-open-well-below-star-wars-avengers
