Avatar
A paraplegic Marine discovers love, belonging, and ecological responsibility while living through an avatar among Pandora’s threatened Na’vi.
Overview
A visually stunning journey into an alien world where nature and culture collide.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- spectacular
- earnest
- romantic
- immersive movie night
- big screen viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film’s groundbreaking visual effects, immersive world-building, and technical ambition while finding its story familiar and archetypal.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jake uses an avatar body to move among the Na'vi while his human body remains elsewhere, making mediated embodiment central to the plot.
Pandora receives elaborate flora, fauna, landscapes, spiritual systems, and Na'vi social traditions.
Corporate and military forces seek to displace the Na'vi and mine Pandora despite the social and ecological costs.
The Na'vi, avatars, Pandora environments, and action set pieces rely on extensive digitally created imagery and performance capture.
Films like Avatar, and why
Star Wars: A New Hope
shared epic science fiction adventure, ecological themes, alien world-building, and large-scale visual spectacle
The Last Samurai
shared anti-colonial science fiction, immersive alien environments, military conflict, and environmental themes
Dune
shared science fiction adventure, indigenous culture clash, corporate exploitation, and spectacular world-building
Princess Mononoke
shared ecological themes, spiritual connection to nature, romantic adventure, and maximalist fantasy spectacle
Movie Details
- Director
- James Cameron
- Release Date
- 2009-12-16
- Runtime
- 162 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (34749)
Cast
- Sam Worthington
- Zoe Saldaña
- Sigourney Weaver
- Stephen Lang
- Michelle Rodriguez
- Giovanni Ribisi
- Joel David Moore
- CCH Pounder
- Wes Studi
- Laz Alonso
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Hulu, Disney Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Avatar about?
- A paraplegic Marine discovers love, belonging, and ecological responsibility while living through an avatar among Pandora’s threatened Na’vi.
- What is Avatar like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Avatar as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Avatar violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Avatar as moderate.
- What did critics think of Avatar?
- Critics broadly praised the film’s groundbreaking visual effects, immersive world-building, and technical ambition while finding its story familiar and archetypal.
- Which films are like Avatar?
- Films with a similar feel include Star Wars: A New Hope, The Last Samurai, Dune, and Princess Mononoke.
- How long is Avatar?
- Avatar runs 162 minutes.
- Where can I watch Avatar?
- In United States, Avatar streams on Hulu, Disney Plus.
