The movie theater was packed back in 2009. Everybody was talking about a movie called Avatar. So I went with my best friend, and we got the worst possible tickets.
There was barely any room. I was stuck in the front row, all the way to the left, angling my neck up and sideways for the entire movie.
And it was worth every second of it.
Back then, we had no idea how much of an impact this movie would have on the film industry, and on me personally. Over the years, I watched it several more times, even bought the extended edition, and later picked up a copy on Apple TV.
Still, nothing prepared me for watching it again with my 13-year-old nephew, and seeing his reactions in real time to a movie I first watched 16 years ago.
So let’s unpack why it still works so well.
Avatar Doesn't Look Like a 2009 Movie
The first and most obvious reason this movie still rules is that it has aged incredibly well.
Think about a video game you loved 10 to 15 years ago. Most of them are borderline unplayable today, unless it’s The Witcher 3, which somehow still looks fantastic for a 2015 game.
From the very start, Avatar looked incredible. A few years later, when 4K became a thing, it got a re-release that made it shine even more. Nothing about the movie itself changed, just the resolution.
Aside from the newer Avatar films, very few movies have managed to match its level of visuals and motion capture. That’s why this film is still going to age gracefully for a long time.
Watching This at 38 Hit Harder Than It Did at 22
I was a completely different person 16 years ago. I had just finished my mandatory army service and was about to start my adult life. I didn’t have many worries, and I was firmly in my pre-college era.
Sixteen years later, my life looks very different. Less free, more complex.
And that’s exactly why this movie hit so much harder this time.
When you’re 22, you don’t think much about the future. Honestly, you probably should, and I say that as someone who learned that lesson the hard way.
Watching Avatar now, seeing Jake Sully run away from every limitation holding him back, hits differently. At 22, it’s a cool story. At 38, it feels like the biggest dream imaginable.
Pandora Looks As Beautiful As Ever
The lush vegetation is one of the things I always loved about Pandora, especially how it looks at night. It feels like nature’s version of a busy city, and in a way, it is. Everything is alive, connected, and moving.
It’s obvious how much thought went into what’s shown on screen, which makes it all the more painful when we see it torn down by tractors and construction machinery.
In the first movie, especially, Pandora’s beauty is front and center because it’s our introduction to her. Later films focus more on the plot, but Pandora is always there in the background, still beautiful, still alive.
The Music Does a Lot of Heavy Lifting
The music plays a massive role in how we experience Avatar. Every time I listen to the score from the first movie, I feel a sense of wonder and epic scale.
And it fits perfectly.
Contrast the music of the Na’vi with the themes used for the RDA. Tribal rhythms versus military trumpets. Many voices singing together versus a cold, singular presence.
The music is so effective that you immediately understand the mood of a scene just by hearing what’s playing.
Most of us only became consciously aware of this kind of musical storytelling after Game of Thrones, especially following the Red Wedding, which aired a few years later. Kind of wild when you think about it.
I'm Glad There's More Avatar Ahead
The Avatar movies have always been pure escapism for me. They’re films you sink into completely. I love living in Pandora for a while, until the movie ends and I have to leave.
So many moments live rent-free in my mind. Jake’s early interactions with Neytiri, his awe when experiencing his Avatar body for the first time, and his gradual connection to the Na’vi.
Part of me wishes these movies could continue forever, even though I know they have to end eventually. It doesn’t help that the gaps between releases are so long.
Yes, the second and third movies tell a larger, cohesive story, but the 2009 film could also stand completely on its own and still be something special.
Final Verdict: Does Avatar Still Hit in 2026?
Yes. A hundred times, yes.
If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s absolutely worth your time. You might be intimidated by the runtime, I get it. But watching at home now means you can pause, grab a drink, or go to the bathroom, something I absolutely did not do back in 2009 because I didn’t want to miss a single moment.
I’d love to see more appreciation for these movies. They’ve been a comfort to me for years.
Have you already watched Avatar? I’d love to know what you thought. And if you haven’t, tell me if you plan to.
