Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third movie in James Cameron’s Avatar series, has a review embargo that lifts on December 16, just three days before its December 19 release. This timing stands out as suspicious because it keeps full critic reviews hidden from audiences until the last possible moment, even after early screenings and social media buzz have already started.https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/11/19/avatar-fire-and-ash-starts-screening-for-critics-on-december-1
Critics got their first looks at the film during screenings on December 1, with social media reactions allowed starting December 2 at 1:30 a.m. Those early posts paint a mixed picture. Some call it the best in the trilogy, praising its stunning visuals and intense action. Others say it feels like a repeat of the second film, with a long runtime of over three hours, weak story beats, and dialogue that drags.https://www.tblcinemas.com/nieuws/filmnieuws/905131https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/12/2/avatar-fire-and-ash-first-reactions-are-muxedhttps://www.radiotimes.com/movies/scifi/avatar-fire-and-ash-first-reactions-newsupdate/
Why hold back full reviews for two more weeks? Studios often lift embargoes earlier for big holiday releases to build hype and help ticket sales. For Avatar: Fire and Ash, the delay means no Rotten Tomatoes scores or detailed critic takes until right before opening weekend. This could point to caution from 20th Century Studios and Cameron’s team. The first Avatar scored 81% on Rotten Tomatoes, and the second hit 76%, but mixed social reactions hint at risks this time around.https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/11/19/avatar-fire-and-ash-starts-screening-for-critics-on-december-1https://www.tblcinemas.com/nieuws/filmnieuws/905131
Past Avatar films crushed the box office, with the second pulling in $2.3 billion despite its huge $400 million budget. This one aims for Oscar nods, including Best Picture, but early tracking shows a softer $100 million opening compared to the prior film’s $134 million kickoff. A late embargo might protect against bad press hurting those numbers or awards chances.https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/12/2/avatar-fire-and-ash-first-reactions-are-muxed
Fans who love the Pandora world and 3D spectacle will likely show up anyway. Still, the tight schedule raises eyebrows. If reactions were all glowing, why not share full reviews sooner to pack theaters? The choice to wait smells like a strategy to limit damage from any lukewarm or negative takes.https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/scifi/avatar-fire-and-ash-first-reactions-newsupdate/
Sources
https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/11/19/avatar-fire-and-ash-starts-screening-for-critics-on-december-1
https://www.tblcinemas.com/nieuws/filmnieuws/905131
https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/12/2/avatar-fire-and-ash-first-reactions-are-muxed
https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/scifi/avatar-fire-and-ash-first-reactions-newsupdate/
