Is the review embargo for Avatar: Fire and Ash delaying Rotten Tomatoes scores? Yes, the full review embargo does not lift until December 16, 2025, just three days before the film’s wide release on December 19, which means comprehensive Rotten Tomatoes scores from critics are not yet available. For now, sites like Rotten Tomatoes show no aggregated critic rating because formal reviews cannot be published until that date.https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/11/19/avatar-fire-and-ash-starts-screening-for-critics-on-december-1 Critics began screenings on December 1, with a social media embargo lifting as early as December 2 at 1:30 a.m., allowing early reactions but not full reviews.https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/11/19/avatar-fire-and-ash-starts-screening-for-critics-on-december-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar:_Fire_and_Ash
This setup is common for big holiday releases like Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third film in James Cameron’s Pandora saga. The movie had its world premiere on December 1 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar:_Fire_and_Ash At three hours and 15 minutes, it is the longest major studio film of 2025 and carries a PG-13 rating.https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/11/19/avatar-fire-and-ash-starts-screening-for-critics-on-december-1 The delay in full reviews builds suspense but also sparks talk about early buzz.
Social media reactions from those screenings have been mixed. Some call it bloated or like Way of Water 2.0, feeling it repeats the previous film’s story beats without standing alone.https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/12/2/avatar-fire-and-ash-first-reactions-are-muxedhttps://scriptophile551675913.wordpress.com/2025/12/12/best-picture-power-rankings-december-2025-edition/ Fans seem to like it more, but critics note issues like lack of fresh ideas after nearly 20 years on the franchise.https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/12/2/avatar-fire-and-ash-first-reactions-are-muxed One early take ranks it low for Oscar chances, at number 15 in Best Picture power rankings, with no nods yet for music or production design.https://scriptophile551675913.wordpress.com/2025/12/12/best-picture-power-rankings-december-2025-edition/
The embargo strategy makes sense for a film with huge expectations. Avatar: The Way of Water grossed 2.3 billion dollars in 2022, making it that year’s top earner despite a 400 million dollar budget.https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/11/19/avatar-fire-and-ash-starts-screening-for-critics-on-december-1 This third entry faced nine delays over the years, pushed back from 2015 due to writing, visual effects, strikes, and pandemics.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar:_Fire_and_Ash Studios often hold reviews close for blockbusters to control the narrative and avoid early negative scores hurting ticket sales.
Box office trackers expect Avatar: Fire and Ash to open around 100 to 110 million dollars domestically. That is below Way of Water’s 134 million dollar debut but still solid for a mid-December slot, where films often build over the holidays with strong legs.https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/12/2/avatar-fire-and-ash-first-reactions-are-muxedhttps://scottmendelson.substack.com/p/box-office-avatar-fire-and-ash-can-open-well-below-star-wars-avengers Once the December 16 embargo lifts, Rotten Tomatoes scores will update quickly as reviews pour in.http
