The upcoming Avatar film, Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender, will release in some theaters after all.
In 2021, Paramount announced that it was developing a feature-length Avatar film for a theatrical release. It was later revealed that the film was a sequel to the original Nickelodeon TV series, following the original cast of characters as adults. Everything seemed to be going well up until Paramount abruptly pulled the plug on the film’s theatrical release, opting to send it straight to streaming on Paramount+.
Naturally, this was pretty disappointing for fans who wanted to experience the Aang’s return on the big screen, but not all hope is lost. Variety has reported that the film will be coming to theaters alongside the film’s Paramount+ release later this month, but there’s a catch: This release is very limited and is only happening in Los Angeles and New York City. There will be three showings a day from July 24th – July 30th at AMC Burbank 8 in L.A. and the AMC Empire 25 in Manhattan.
This will make the film eligible for awards consideration and allow Paramount to submit the film for best animated feature film at next year’s Oscars. There will also be a screening at San Diego Comic-Con on July 24th.
Ultimately, it’s pretty disappointing that it’s so limited, especially when the film was expected to get the full theatrical treatment initially. The film also leaked in its entirety earlier this year, allowing fans to watch the entire movie months before release. As a result, Paramount moved the film’s release up from October 2026.
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.
