Here are Cinephile Corner’s 10 recommendations for movies like Avatar: Fire and Ash:
Predator: Badlands
Predator: Badlands is a baffling turn for Dan Trachtenberg after the clean thrills of Prey and the surprise bite of the animated Predator: Killer of Killers. Coming off those entries in his Predator reboot, I expected craft, tension, and clever constraint. What arrives is scale without spectacle, a loud, CG smeared detour that forgets why this series works.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
The margin for error in Ryan Coogler’s sequel to 2018’s Black Panther was always going to be slim. He was tasked with delivering a film that matched the intensity and significance of its tight, universe-expanding first film that set the tables for one of Marvel’s most diverse storylines in a world dominated with white male superheroes doing battle with the most cosmic villains imaginable. Needless to say, there was a lot of pressure for Wakanda Forever to deliver on a monumental level.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is an admirable demo tape for director Wes Ball. The movie shows his talent for directing large-scale action sequences and consistent CGI-driven work, but it doesn’t quite have the succinct and emotionally powerful story to match.
Gladiator II
Gladiator II tries to follow in the footsteps of its predecessor, but often stumbles, feeling like a rehash of the 2000 original rather than something new. The story treads familiar ground, and the visual effects can be distractingly bad, as if Ridley Scott decided to embrace outdated CGI instead of pushing the boundaries of what’s possible today. It’s frustrating to watch a film with such potential settle for being a shadow of what came before.
The Adam Project
It has a heaping amount of heart and a dash of whit, but The Adam Project failed to deliver the breathtaking science fiction blockbuster that Netflix was hoping it would. The action vehicle for Ryan Reynolds lands with a soft thud.
Avatar: The Way of Water
The Way of Water absolutely comes through and pulls off a better experience than the first Avatar film could ever dream of. It’s emotionally riveting and absolutely deserves to be seen on a big screen. The best films make you laugh, gasp, and cry. The Way of Water pulls off all three. Simply put, don’t bet against James Cameron.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania serves as a critical turning point in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The movie simultaneously introduces Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror and tries to steer the inconsistent MCU back on track. It may not entirely succeed, but Paul Rudd‘s latest movie has a few glimmering pieces.
TRON: Ares
TRON: Ares arrives with a lot working against it. I skipped it in theaters after the rough word of mouth and because this is a franchise I have never felt much for. TRON has always struck me as sleek and narratively thin, and TRON: Legacy doubled down on the clunk. Joachim Rønning takes the reins here, with Jared Leto in the lead and Greta Lee in support, and on paper that did not inspire confidence. What surprised me is that I had more fun than expected, even if the film is still a mixed bag.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
Rise of the Beasts is better than nearly any Transformers film, or perhaps it’s just better at not being a noticeably abysmal movie. To blubber a plot synopsis of any of the Transformers movies seems like a task done only by the deranged. They draw you so far into the weeds that it’s hard to keep your bearings while you watch them (Who’s the villain this time? How’s that different from the last?). But regardless, they keep chugging along.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
The Fantastic Four: First Steps makes a case that goopy, comic book looking superhero movies are back. In Superman, it felt like a conscious choice from James Gunn to lean into cartoons and pulp. Here it reads more like a limitation. The visual effects often look unfinished, and the soundstage lighting keeps scenes flat. As a soft reset for Marvel Studios, that is a frustrating place to start, even if the core family arrives with potential.
READ MORE: Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025), Movies Like Avatar, Movies Like Avatar: The Way of Water
