Last week, the trailer dropped for Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender. Slick action, funny lines, familiar characters — it looked fantastic. I had no idea it was going to be coming out so soon. I pulled out my phone mid-trailer to look up movie tickets, but then the dreaded final screen appeared: Releasing on Paramount+. Ugh.
Originally announced in February 2021, Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender was scheduled for a full theatrical release in October 2026. But in December 2025, Paramount cancelled those plans, instead making the movie a Paramount+ exclusive. Several months later, the entire film leaked online, forcing Paramount to move up the film’s release to July 2026. To say the road to release has been rocky would be an understatement, to which I say… So what?
Why Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender Should Be in Theaters
While some people may have watched Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender illegally, there are still thousands of people (myself included) who haven’t. We live in an age of leaks, and while I can understand the panic to move the film up to an earlier release date, I’m baffled that the film was pulled from a theatrical release to begin with. The mode of viewing is fundamentally different, and it’s just, frankly, a bummer.
This movie clearly means business, so why doesn’t Paramount?
I also just honestly don’t see it as a good economic choice on Paramount’s part. Like any good millennial, I don’t pay for all of the streaming services I use, using logins from family and friends and friends of friends. Why would I pay $13.99 for yet another subscription I don’t want when I could use someone else’s login? And for those people who did seek it out illegally, they certainly aren’t going to be paying for it again, either. Both experiences are ultimately the same: Watching a lower-resolution stream with glitchy wifi on my phone, laptop, or television while I fold laundry. Not fun. But watching at a movie theater on a big screen with all my friends as we cheer along for our favorites? Now that would be fun.
Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender was clearly made for a theatrical release. The studio made the effort to cast actors with ethnic and cultural backgrounds that align with the obvious inspirations of the fictional characters; it also works in that these characters have aged since we last saw them.
But these aren’t just casual recasts — these are some big-name actors! Eric Nam (K-pop star) is Aang! Steve Yeun (of Walking Dead fame) is Zuko! Román Zaragoza (on Ghosts) is Sokka! Jessica Matten (who I’ve been loving in Dark Winds) is Katara! Dionne Quan (who played Kimi in the Rugrats and is blind, so that’s so cool to see that representation) is the blind earthbender Toph! I mean, this cast is wild — there’s also Taika Waititi, Dave Bautista, Ken Jeong, and Ke Huy Quan! The caliber of these actors is high; there are Academy Award-nominated and -winning names. Speaking of which — this film could be a serious contender for Best Animated Film, which is normally just a Disney showcase. Why wouldn’t Paramount want to capitalize on that creativity?
The film is just as legit behind the “camera” as well. I have always admired the show’s beautiful art direction, and the movie required the hard work of dozens of animators. Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender is directed by Lauren Montgomery, who is animation superhero royalty; not only has she worked on tons of DC shows, but she worked on the original Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra. This movie clearly means business, so why doesn’t Paramount?
Aang and the Gang Deserve Better
It feels like Paramount distributors have decided the leak means any chance at a “real” release is basically over. So, they’ve slotted in Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender as a quick cash grab on streaming, attempted to trap people into a subscription, and moved on. But as I shared earlier, I just don’t think that economic reasoning makes any sense. Furthermore, the movie would likely do great at the box office.
Millennials love nostalgia and consistently spend for it. Look to the box office success of films that appeal to millennial nostalgia, such as Detective Pikachu, Freakier Friday, and Toy Story 5. We’re talking hundreds of millions of dollars, and Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender could really bring people in, especially since Paramount is banking on multiple new upcoming Avatar projects.
And frankly, I would love an excuse to go sit in a nice air-conditioned movie theater for three hours during the hot summer (as opposed to October, when I want to nest at home or do cute fall stuff) and go see this movie, sipping sweet sodas and nibbling salty popcorn. I would happily spend double — even triple — more than the paltry $13.99 streaming subscription to see Team Avatar on the big screen. And what’s more, I’d organize a big outing with my friends. And, depending on how good the movie is, I’d go again!
According to a recent press release, the film has a fan screening at Comic-Con in San Diego in a few weeks, and maybe it’ll do so well there that the Paramount execs will change their mind. Even the original actors of the show’s Nickelodeon run have called for the film to get a theatrical release. Fans are asking for it, but time will tell if anyone is listening.
So come on, Paramount, and give this film the release it deserves. Or at least what I deserve, as a depressy millennial who still pretends she’s a waterbender every time she’s in a pool or the ocean.
Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender is scheduled for a streaming-only release on July 25, 2026, via Paramount+.
Amanda Tien (she/her or they) loves video games where she can pet dogs, solve mysteries, punch bad guys, play as a cool lady, and/or have a good cry. She started writing with The Punished Backlog in 2020 and became an Editor in 2022. Amanda also does a lot of the site's graphic designs and podcast editing. Amanda's work has been published in Mothership, Unwinnable Monthly, Poets.org, Salt Hill Journal, and more. She holds an MFA in Fiction from the University of Pittsburgh. Learn more about her writing, visual art, graphic design, and marketing work at www.amandatien.com.
