Avatar: The Last Airbender – Rise of the Phoenix King (2025)
Genre: Fantasy | Adventure | Action
Directed by: Destin Daniel Cretton
Starring: Gordon Cormier, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Amber Midthunder, Ken Watanabe
Runtime: 2h 12min
Years after defeating Fire Lord Ozai and restoring balance to the world, Avatar Aang has been tirelessly working to rebuild the Air Nomad culture and maintain peace among the four nations. But the world, once broken, is not so easily healed. A shadow stirs in the East—a legacy of fire not yet extinguished.
The film opens in Republic City, a shining symbol of unity built by the collaboration of all nations. Aang, older and wiser, is seen meditating at the Air Temple Sanctuary, joined by Katara, his ever-supportive partner. Together, they teach new generations of airbenders—some born, some awakened after the harmonic convergence.
But peace is fragile.
Whispers spread of a cult rising from the ashes of the old Fire Nation, led by a mysterious figure known only as the Phoenix King Reborn. Disguised behind a mask of gold and crimson, he claims to be Ozai’s true heir and seeks to restore fire’s dominion over the world.
Zuko, now Fire Lord, is nearly assassinated during a public address. With unrest brewing, he turns to Aang for help.
Aang, sensing a spiritual disturbance, embarks on a journey with Toph, Sokka, and a new airbender prodigy named Niko, a fearless orphan who idolizes Aang but struggles with discipline. As they track down the cult, Aang visits the Spirit World, where he meets the spirit of Avatar Roku.
Roku reveals a terrifying truth: the Phoenix King is not just a man—it’s a reincarnated spirit of war, an ancient force banished long ago. The cult has found a way to anchor it in the physical realm using the remains of Sozin’s Comet and bloodbending-enhanced rituals.
Meanwhile, Zuko faces internal betrayal. A radical faction of Fire Nation nobles believes Zuko is too weak and begin secretly aiding the Phoenix King. Among them is General Kael, a master firebender who manipulates blue fire and believes the Avatar's time is over.
As the Phoenix King launches a siege on the Eastern Earth Kingdom, Aang and his friends race to stop him. In an epic battle across skyships, temples, and spirit-infused battlegrounds, they fight against firebenders enhanced by ancient energy and forbidden bending techniques.
Toph discovers the cult is using spirit crystals mined from deep within the earth to channel spiritual energy—corrupting nature itself. She leads a mission to destroy the mines while Sokka and Niko sabotage the cult’s weapon factories.
In a final confrontation atop a volcano, Aang battles the Phoenix King, who unleashes an inferno of rage drawn from corrupted spirits. The battle is fierce, testing Aang’s will, skill, and spirit.
With the guidance of the past Avatars and the sacrifice of General Iroh II, Aang enters the Avatar State, purifies the spirit, and seals the Phoenix King’s soul within a new spirit prison—restoring harmony once more.
Back in Republic City, Aang and Katara prepare to return to the rebuilt Southern Air Temple. Zuko begins reforming the Fire Nation Guard, and Niko is accepted as a formal airbending apprentice.
Aang, looking at the sunset, smiles as he senses balance—though he knows the world will always need the Avatar.
"The world was saved. But peace must be earned—again."
