Avatar: Fire and Ash

This topic contains:

• overall comments and recommendations
• details of classification and consumer advice lines for Avatar: Fire and Ash
• a review of Avatar: Fire and Ash completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 24 December 2025.

Overall comments and recommendations

About the movie

This section contains details about the movie, including its classification by the Australian Government Classification Board and the associated consumer advice lines. Other classification advice (OC) is provided where the Australian film classification is not available.

ACCM review

This review of the movie contains the following information:

• a synopsis of the story
• themes
• use of violence
• material that may scare or disturb children
• product placement
• sexual references
• nudity and sexual activity
• use of substances
• coarse language
• the movie’s message

A synopsis of the story

In the aftermath of Avatar: The Way of Water, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and his family are mourning the death of their eldest son, Neteyam. In particular, his younger brother Lo’ak (Britain Dalton) struggles with personal guilt and the weight of his father’s blame.

When Spider (Jack Champion) nearly suffocates after his exo-pack battery runs out, Jake and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) arrange for the Wind Traders to transport him back to High Camp for his safety. During the journey, however, the Wind Traders’ ships are attacked by the Mangkwan clan, led by Varang (Oona Chaplin). In the chaos, Jake, Neytiri, and the children are separated, and Spider, again critically low on oxygen, loses consciousness. In a moment of desperation, Kiri (Sigourney Weaver) calls upon Eywa, harnessing her connection to Pandora. Mycelium enters Spider’s body, allowing him to breathe the air of Pandora, making him the first human to do so. Unfortunately, Spider’s ability is discovered by the RDA, who plan to capture him to reverse engineer his adaptation. Concurrently, Spider’s father Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) travels to the Mangkwan's village to form an alliance, trading firearms for their support against the Na’vi and Eywa.

Later, Spider and Jake are apprehended by the RDA, who take them back to their base. Neytiri infiltrates the base and helps them escape, however, Jake discovers plans to attack the Na'vi and the Tulkun (large marine whale-like species native to the oceans of Pandora) during the annual event known as the Calf Communion. Jake and the Na’vi prepare to fight, but will it be enough to save Pandora from the RDA?

Suicide; Death; Family breakdown; Animal distress; Death of a sibling; Children as victims.

There is some violence in this movie, including:

• The Mangkwan attack the Wind Traders. A multitude of weaponry is utilised, including guns, bows, suicide bombers and animal warfare. Neytiri is shot with an arrow and falls from the sky into the jungle below, barely alive.
• A Mangkwan is shot with a gun while chasing Lo’ak.
• Quaritch captures Jake at gunpoint.
• The Mangkwan tie up the Sullys.
• Kiri makes a plant shoot thorns, killing multiple of the Mangkwan.
• The RDA kill a mother tulkun, leaving its child in mourning.
• Neytiri threatens a pregnant Na’vi.
• The RDA burn down the forest with flamethrowers.
• The RDA tase the Na’vi as they round them up.
• Lo’ak is attacked by some squad-like creatures, who attack him with tentacles and attempt to bite him with their beaks.
• Neytiri blows up parts of the RDA base using missile-tipped arrows. She also holds a knife to a Na’vi’s neck to gain information.
• Neytiri blows up an RDA soldier in a plane.
• Jake and Neytiri decide to kill Spider to eliminate the possibility of the RDA reverse-engineering his adaptation. Spider begs for his life and Jake refuses, though in the end he cannot bring himself to kill him.
• The film ends in all-out war, with the RDA and Mangkwan fighting the Na’vi, tulkun, and other wildlife. There are arrows and bullets fired, with many animals, humans, and Na’vi dying in the conflict.
• A pregnant Na’vi dies soon after giving birth, due to injuries sustained during the battle.
• A Na’vi child is used as a hostage.
• The RDA herd and prepare to eliminate the tulkun with missiles.
• A tulkun bites an RDA employee and drags them underwater.

Material that may scare or disturb children

In addition to the above-mentioned violent scenes, there are some scenes in this movie that could scare or disturb children under the age of five, including the following:

• The Na’vi fly on animals at frightening heights, which may frighten young viewers or those with a fear of heights.
• The physical appearance of the Na’vi may frighten younger audiences.

In addition to the above-mentioned violent scenes and scary visual images, there are some scenes in this movie that could scare or disturb children aged five to eight, including the following:

• In the spirit world, Neteyam asks Lo’ak how he died. They discuss the events and Lo’ak expresses his guilt and regret over his brother’s death.
• Jake frequently shouts at Lo’ak, treating him more like a soldier than a son at times.

In addition to the above-mentioned violent scenes, there are some scenes in this movie that could scare or disturb children aged eight to thirteen, including the following:

• Kiri suffers a seizure when she connects with Pandora and attempts to communicate with Eywa.

• Lo’ak contemplates taking his own life, holding a gun in his hands.

Product placement

• None noted.

Sexual references

There are some sexual references in this movie, including:

• Varang states the Mangkwan do not suckle on the breast of weakness.
• Varang tells Quaritch she might keep him as a slave to pleasure her.

Nudity and sexual activity

There is some nudity and sexual activity in this movie, including:

• The Na’vi are scarcely clothed outside of their private parts.
• Spider also wears limited clothing due to his upbringing by the Na’vi despite being human.
• Spider and Kiri kiss.
• Varang and Quaritch begin a romantic relationship during the events of the film. They are shown in a tent after spending the night together.

Use of substances

There is some use of substances in this movie, including:

• Alcohol.
• The Mangkwan use a hallucinogenic powder.

Coarse language

There is some coarse language in this movie, including:

• Bullshit
• Shit
• Asshole
• Bastard
• Jackass
• Fuckers
• Bitch.

In a nutshell

Avatar: Fire and Ash is the third instalment in James Cameron’s iconic Avatar franchise. The sci-fi action-adventure film features stunning graphics. The film features heavy themes, and violent and scary scenes, making it unsuitable for children under 12, with parental guidance recommended to 14.

Like its predecessors, the film comments on human environmental exploitation and colonialism, with a core premise of colonising and taking resources from a land inhabited by an Indigenous population. The film also reflects on the cyclical nature of war, where fire leaves behind ash, and from that ash, new flames can arise. Finally, the film explores how grief and guilt can weigh heavily on individuals, showing that healing often comes through connection with family, community, and the world around them.

Values in this movie that parents may wish to reinforce with their children include:

• Courage
• Environmentalism
• Family
• Compassion
• Resilience
• Cooperation and unity.

This movie could also give parents the opportunity to discuss with their children attitudes and behaviours, and their real-life consequences, such as:

• The movie gives parents the opportunity to discuss many hard-hitting topics, including racism, colonialism, oppression and environmentalism.