Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender is streaming on Paramount+ now, and critics mostly love it. It holds 90% on Rotten Tomatoes from 49 reviews, with a 99% audience score, while Metacritic is cooler at 68. The 99-minute, PG movie jumps 13 years past the war to a grown-up Aang (Eric Nam), Katara, Sokka and Toph. Reviewers rave about the animation and call the story solid but safe.
It’s an easy warm-up for Friday’s Seven Havens Book 1 finale. This page rounds up what critics said, checked October 28, 2026.
Avatar Aang movie at a glance
| Where to watch | Paramount+, since July 25, 2026 |
| In theaters? | Only a short limited run in late July (Los Angeles, New York and Comic-Con) |
| Runtime | 99 minutes |
| Rated | PG (sequences of violence and action) |
| Director | Lauren Montgomery |
| Written by | Tim Hedrick and Christopher Yost |
| Animation | Flying Bark Productions, with Studio Mir and Studio Ppuri |
| Blu-ray and DVD | November 3, 2026 |
| 4K steelbook | February 9, 2027 |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 90% critics, 99% audience |
| Metacritic | 68 critics, 8.0 users |
A wide theatrical release had been planned for October 9, 2026. That was cancelled, and the movie went to Paramount+ instead.
What is Avatar Aang about? (No spoilers)
Thirteen years after the Hundred Year War, Aang is an adult. Then he and the old team learns of Tagah (Dave Bautista), another airbender who survived. What follows is a search for an airbending staff that could help bring back the Air Nomads.
The movie sits between the original show and The Legend of Korra. TheWrap notes that the story hits hardest if you already know where Aang’s choices lead.
Who is in the Avatar Aang cast?
| Character | Voice |
|---|---|
| Aang | Eric Nam |
| Katara | Jessica Matten |
| Sokka | Román Zaragoza |
| Toph Beifong | Dionne Quan |
| Fire Lord Zuko | Steven Yeun |
| Tagah | Dave Bautista |
| Appa and Momo | Dee Bradley Baker |
| Avatar Xian | Ke Huy Quan |
| Avatar Sonam | Freida Pinto |
| Kallik | Geraldine Viswanathan |
| The Gorillavark | Taika Waititi |
| Cabbage Merchant | Ken Jeong |
Two voices carry over from the original series: Dionne Quan is back as Toph, and Dee Bradley Baker is back as Appa and Momo.
What did critics say about Avatar Aang?
Mostly good things. Metacritic counts 13 reviews: 9 positive, 4 mixed and none negative. The Rotten Tomatoes consensus calls it a glowing continuation of the series that’s technically skilled and visually striking.
| Outlet | Score (Metacritic scale) |
|---|---|
| IGN | 80 |
| Polygon | 80 |
| TheWrap | 80 |
| The New York Times | 80 |
| RogerEbert.com | 75 |
| Collider | 70 |
| Looper | 70 |
| Total Film | 70 |
| Next Best Picture | 70 |
| The Guardian | 60 |
What critics loved
- The animation. Almost every review singles it out. Looper thinks it’s best seen on a big screen, and Collider says it deserved a wider release.
- The gang, grown up. The Guardian enjoyed seeing the friends older, and Next Best Picture says the film matures alongside its characters.
- A fair entry point. The New York Times says it works as a standalone film and stays true to the show.
- A bridge to Korra. Polygon calls it essential for fans and a link to The Legend of Korra.
What critics didn’t like
- The story is just okay. Collider calls it adequate, and The Guardian calls it good enough and no more.
- It’s built for fans. TheWrap thinks newcomers will find it dazzling but underdeveloped.
- It’s not the original. Total Film says it isn’t as strong as the first series.
Should you watch Avatar Aang before the Seven Havens finale?
You don’t need it to follow Seven Havens, which is set 225 years after Korra with an all-new cast. But if you want an Avatar fix before the Book 1 finale drops (episodes 10 to 13, Friday, October 30 at 12:01 a.m. PT on Paramount+), this is the easy pick. It’s on the same service and runs under two hours.
Here’s where everything fits on the timeline:
- Avatar: The Last Airbender (the original series, which ends the Hundred Year War)
- Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender (13 years later)
- The Legend of Korra (70 years after the war)
- Avatar: Seven Havens (225 years after Korra)
Want to keep bending after the finale? Tagah from this movie is joining Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game as a free fighter.
Is Avatar Aang on Netflix or Blu-ray?
It streams on Paramount+, which made it, and it isn’t on Netflix. Blu-ray and DVD arrive November 3, 2026, and a 4K steelbook follows on February 9, 2027.
Avatar Aang movie FAQ
How long is the Avatar Aang movie?
99 minutes.
Is Avatar Aang okay for kids?
It’s rated PG for sequences of violence and action.
Who voices adult Aang?
Eric Nam. Sander Argabrite voices the younger Aang.
Will there be a sequel?
Nothing has been announced as of October 28, 2026.
Read next: Seven Havens finale time and episode ratings · Avatar Legends fighting game roster and reviews
Own Avatar Aang on disc
Sources: Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic critic pages, the film’s Wikipedia page (cast, release history and home media dates), the official trailer and the Paramount+ listing, all checked October 28, 2026.
Add NerdSnack as a preferred source on Google
The Weekly Pull
The biggest card price moves, every Friday.
The week’s biggest card and collectible price moves, plus the movie, anime and game releases worth knowing about. Sign up and get our free Black Friday 2026 price-to-beat cheat sheet. Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Related Posts:
Talk to us
Got a question, a tip or a request? Email us.
A real person reads every message at hello@nerdsnack.com, and we usually reply within 1–2 business days.
Prefer a form? Use our contact page.
Everything we recommend, curated in one place — from anime merch to gaming gear and snacks.
