Avatar
Avatar Image
See the trailer
Metascore
83 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 35 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.6 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2373 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • Starring: Michelle Rodriguez, Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver
  • Summary: Jake Sully is a former Marine confined to a wheelchair. But despite his broken body, Jake is still a warrior at heart. He is recruited to travel light years to the human outpost on Pandora, where a corporate consortium is mining a rare mineral that is the key to solving Earth's energy crisis. Because Pandora's atmosphere is toxic, they have created the Avatar Program, in which human "drivers" have their consciousness linked to an avatar, a remotely-controlled biological body that can survive in the lethal air. These avatars are genetically engineered hybrids of human DNA mixed with DNA from the natives of Pandora... the Na'vi. Reborn in his avatar form, Jake can walk again. He is given a mission to infiltrate the Na'vi, who have become a major obstacle to mining the precious ore. But a beautiful Na'vi female, Neytiri, saves Jake's life, and this changes everything. Jake is taken in by her clan, and learns to become one of them, which involves many tests and adventures. As Jake's relationship with his reluctant teacher Neytiri deepens, he learns to respect the Na'vi way and finally takes his place among them. Soon he will face the ultimate test as he leads them in an epic battle that will decide the fate of an entire world. (20th Century Fox)
    … Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Kirk Honeycutt
    100
    A fully believable, flesh-and-blood (albeit not human flesh and blood) romance is the beating heart of "Avatar." Cameron has never made a movie just to show off visual pyrotechnics: Every bit of technology in "Avatar" serves the greater purpose of a deeply felt love story.
  2. ReelViews
    Reviewed by: James Berardinelli
    100
    Avatar is entertainment of the highest order. It's the best movie of 2009.
  3. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Phillips
    75
    The first 90 minutes of Avatar are pretty terrific - a full-immersion technological wonder with wonders to spare. The other 72 minutes, less and less terrific.
  4. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Joe Neumaier
    60
    Avatar clears the hurdle in terms of being optical candy. Its story, though, is pure cheese.

See all 35 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 831 out of 1142
  2. Mixed: 114 out of 1142
  3. Negative: 197 out of 1142
  1. Iky009
    9
    Great visual effects, film and mounted with a spectacular photography and a magnificent art direction and stunning views, but their enrendo is not the best yet it is still a great movie.… Expand
  2. grandpajoe6191
    8
    Despite "Avatar"'s heavy plot, Blockbuster king James Cameron impresses us with fantastic visuals and CGI of the Na'vi and human battle scenes in (Le Gasp!) 3D.… Expand
  3. GeorgeJ
    5
    Graphics phenomenal but story sucked. Unubtainium, really? They couldn't have come up with anything better.
  4. phAtBenJ
    4
    Avatar is no doubt my least favorite film of all time for one simple reason: it is everything wrong with Hollywood. Over-budgeted production cost, the lure of 3D to draw viewers, manipulative characters and political messages, and the complete lack of depth in the characters and story plague this beautiful looking film. To say that this film is bad would be a lie, but I despise this film so much due to it's one-dimensional characters and predictable and unoriginal story. James Cameron has done some great work in his career (The Terminator films, Aliens, [and even] Titanic), but Avatar is not among that prestigious list. Avatar only goes to prove that visual effects and action scenes do not guarantee a good film. For example, 12 Angry Men is one of the greatest films ever and it contains no action, CGI, and lacks multiple locations; the entire appeal of the film lies in its strong characters, dialogue, premise, and confrontations. Avatar lacks all these quintessential elements, and therefore suffers.… Expand

See all 1142 User Reviews

Trailers

Related Articles

  1. Awards, TV, Movies

    Golden Globes Recap: Winners and Losers

    Golden Globes Recap: Winners and Losers Image
    Published: January 18, 2010
    We recap the evening's winners, reveal what the critics are saying about the broadcast, and examine what the Globes tell us about the upcoming Academy Awards.
    More »
  2. Best of 2009, Movies

    The Best and Worst Movies of 2009

    The Best and Worst Movies of 2009 Image
    Published: January 4, 2010
    Which films from the past year are worthy of praise, and which should be forgotten forever? We cover all the bases as we look at the best and worst wide releases and limited releases of the past year, and run through the critics' Top 10 lists.
    More »
  3. Movies

    All Films Considered: James Cameron

    All Films Considered: James Cameron Image
    Published: December 18, 2009
    Now that the reviews are in for Avatar, we look back at the other James Cameron-directed films in our database, to see how the critics have responded to his work.
    More »
  4. 6 Picks, Movies, Music

    This Week in Metacritic: Did You Hear About Avatar?

    This Week in Metacritic: Did You Hear About Avatar? Image
    Published: December 17, 2009
    Our quick roundup of the newest releases in movies, music, games and TV found at Metacritic.com for the week of 12/14
    More »
  5. Awards, TV, Movies

    Golden Globe Nominations Announced

    Golden Globe Nominations Announced Image
    Published: December 15, 2009
    The HFPA revealed its Golden Globe nominations on Tuesday morning, and "Up in the Air" topped all films with six nominations, while Fox's "Glee" was the big winner in television with four.
    More »
  6. Awards, Movies

    Hurt's So Good: More Critics Lock on to "Locker"

    Hurt's So Good: More Critics Lock on to
    Published: December 14, 2009
    The New York Film Critics Circle added to The Hurt Locker's growing list of honors, while another critic organization sided with Up in the Air.
    More »

Current Movie Releases

Full List »
  1. Before Midnight
    Metascore: 95
  2. Star Trek Into Darkness
    Metascore: 72
  3. This Is the End
    Metascore: 68
  4. Iron Man 3
    Metascore: 62
  5. Fast & Furious 6
    Metascore: 61
  6. Man of Steel
    Metascore: 55
  7. The Great Gatsby
    Metascore: 55
  8. Oblivion
    Metascore: 54
  9. Epic
    Metascore: 52
  10. Peeples
    Metascore: 52
  11. Now You See Me
    Metascore: 50
  12. Pain & Gain
    Metascore: 44
  13. The Internship
    Metascore: 43
  14. The Purge
    Metascore: 41
  15. After Earth
    Metascore: 33
  16. The Hangover Part III
    Metascore: 30
  17. The Big Wedding
    Metascore: 28
  18. Scary Movie 5
    Metascore: 11
All Current Movies »