Avatar: Fire and Ash runtime finally revealed - and you should make yourself comfortable

Avatar: Fire and Ash has revealed its runtime ahead of its release in cinemas on 19th December – and it’s the longest film in the series so far.

The film, which is the third entry in James Cameron’s long-running blockbuster franchise, will clock in at a whopping three hours and 15 minutes.

That’s three minutes longer than the previous entry, 2022’s The Way of Water, which had a hefty runtime of three hours and 12 minutes.

Cameron previously explained why Avatar: Fire and Ash will be longer than its predecessors.

Speaking to Empire magazine earlier this year, he said: "In a nutshell, we had too many great ideas packed into act one of movie 2. The [film] was moving like a bullet train, and we weren't drilling down enough on character. So I said, 'Guys, we've got to split it.'"

He added: "Movie 3 will actually be a little bit longer than movie 2."

Despite The Way of Water’s critical and financial success, some fans were quick to complain about the film’s three-hour runtime.

Defending its length, Cameron told Empire: “I don’t want anybody whining about length when they sit and binge-watch [television] for eight hours. I can almost write this part of the review. 'The agonisingly long three-hour movie…’ It’s like, give me a f*****g break."

He added: “I’ve watched my kids sit and do five one-hour episodes in a row. Here’s the big social paradigm shift that has to happen: It’s okay to get up and go pee.”

Avatar: Fire and Ash will introduce fans to a new Na'vi clan known as the Ash People, set to be the antagonists in the new movie.

A trailer was released for the new film back in July, teasing epic battle sequences, as well as giving fans a first look at the fiery leader of the new clan, Varang (Oona Chaplin).

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"One year after settling in with the Metkayina Clan, Jake and Neytiri's family grapples with grief after Neteyam's death," the synopsis reads.

"Eventually, they encounter a new, aggressive Na'vi tribe called the Ash People, led by the fiery tribe leader, Varang, who has allied with Jake's enemy, Quaritch, as the conflict on Pandora escalates to devastating consequences."

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Avatar: Fire and Ash is set for release on Friday 19th December 2025.

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