This list has been updated by Charlene Badasie.
A unique alien race, gorgeous planets, underlying messages about real-world problems like colonization, cultural identity, the cost of survival, and fighting for good, all helped make writer-director James Cameron's Avatar and its sequels, Avatar: The Way of Water and Avatar: Fire and Ash, some of the most successful, high-grossing movies ever made.
If you're craving more stories that echo those themes, the movies on this list, which can be found on streaming platforms like Netflix, HBO Max, and Hulu, are a great place to start. These picks don't just feel like Avatar, they expand on similar ideas in fascinating ways, and many of them will resonate with viewers who recently discovered Cameron's franchise.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
At its core, Avatar is a first-contact film, where humans work to navigate their encounter with the Na'vi. For one of the most iconic first-contact movies ever, you need to watch Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The story is suspenseful, but compelling, and even kind of scary because for much of the film, the audience is left unaware of the aliens' intentions.
There's a reason it was nominated for nine Oscars. Spielberg lets curiosity drive the story. And the way ordinary people become obsessed with something bigger than themselves share similarities with Avatar and how Jake Sully's exploration of a world he doesn't really understand. This film is perfect for viewers who appreciate slow-burn storytelling.
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)
In Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, the Empire has invaded the remote moon of Endor to build a shield generator – taking over the Ewoks' home planet and destroying the environment in the process. Luckily, the Rebellion teams up with the Ewoks to reclaim their planet and save the galaxy. Just like the Na'vi must save their planet from humans, viewers will find lots of similarities in the Battle of Endor.
Beyond the iconic space battles, Return of the Jedi is really about resistance and community. Watching the Ewoks defend their home with primitive tools against overwhelming military technology mirrors the Na'vi's fight on Pandora. Return of the Jedi is ideal for fans who love hopeful, big-hearted sci-fi stories with a mini redemption arc.
FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992)
In FernGully: The Last Rainforest, a group of fairies and woodland creatures are suddenly displaced when a group of loggers arrive with plans to chop down the rainforest. While it may have been aimed at kids, the movie's environmental message is surprisingly blunt, with nature being treated like disposable property. The animation is vibrant, though the movie doesn't shy away from the cost of destruction.
So it's easy to see how this film is similar to Avatar. Families, eco-story lovers, and nostalgic '90s animation fans will especially enjoy FernGully: The Last Rainforest. In many ways, it planted seeds that Avatar later grew into something massive and widely successful. But it's fun to watch a similar story in a different format.
Pocahontas (1995)
Pocahontas begins when a young Native American woman forms an unexpected bond with an English settler. As tensions rise between their worlds, their love challenges greed and prejudice. In a nutshell, the first Avatar movie is basically Pocahontas on a different planet since both films share the same premise - settlers befriending natives, while secretly plotting to take their land and resources.
Pocahontas is ideal for viewers who love Avatar for its emotional arcs and not its sci-fi, as the story focuses more on empathy and what happens when the misunderstandings of two cultures leads to violence that feels inevitable. While its historical accuracy remains up for debate, the movie still delivers a poignant message on colonization and environmental respect.
Tarzan (1999)
In a lot of ways, Tarzan is kind of like the Na'vi in Avatar. The titular character grew up living with nature, using it as his home, instead of just as a place that can be mined and logged. When he finally makes human contact, Tarzan is ultimately forced to choose between the life he knows and the people who want to change it.
The movie featured many of the same scenarios in Avatar and ultimately asks who is the true savage – the person living with nature, or the people who wish to demolish it. The movie also questions civilization itself, showing how greed turns discovery into destruction. Tarzan is a perfect pick for families and fans of emotional coming-of-age stories.
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
Atlantis: The Lost Empire shares the most similarities with Avatar. Set in the 1910s with an awesome steampunk and Jules Verne aesthetic, the movie follows an expedition under the sea to uncover the lost city of Atlantis. Once there, they meet the Atlantians, who harness an incredible power thanks to their symbiotic relationship with their environment.
As always, the visitors then become invaders when it's revealed that they actually came for resources and treasure. Atlantis: The Lost Empire blends adventure and sci-fi in a way that feels like a spiritual cousin to Avatar. The film is visually bold, and it also wrestles with the ethics of discovery vs. exploitation. It's perfect for teens, adventure-movie lovers, and anyone who enjoys characters with quirky personalities.
The Time Machine (2002)
In The Time Machine, a grieving inventor goes so far forward in time to save his wife that he watches society crumble and later rebuild, with a new race of forest-dwelling humans called Eloi now inhabiting the Earth's surface. Based on H.G. Wells' classic novel, the movie explores the long-term consequences of human arrogance - something Avatar continually warns against.
Fans will also notice similarities in vibe and visual style between the Eloi and Avatar's Na'vi people. The Time Machine is a great choice for fans of sci-fi who enjoy storytelling with a philosophical message. It has less action than Avatar, but its cautionary message about class and survival feels surprisingly modern and eerily relevant in the world of Pandora.
The Fountain (2006)
Just as humans arrive on Pandora in search of "unobtanium" in Avatar, The Fountain tells of humanity's search for The Tree of Life, echoing the way Europeans used to believe the Fountain of Youth was hidden somewhere in the Americas. Like the humans in Avatar, who are desperate for power and resources, The Fountain tells of the search for something even greater - immortality.
The Fountain is visually poetic and deeply philosophical. Instead of battles and colonization, it explores the human refusal to accept mortality. The movie is an ideal choice for viewers who enjoy sci-fi with an indie vibe and stories that are a little abstract. It pairs surprisingly well with Avatar's spiritual themes about the lengths humans will go for ambition.
District 9 (2009)
One of the themes Avatar touches on is the way that humans don't value the Na'vi or their land because they're perceived as the "other" and thus not worthy of any rights. District 9 takes this idea to the extreme as the story begins when an alien race is held captive in South African internment camps. The movie was heavily inspired by the country's past history of apartheid (segregation and racism).
And if you loved Avatar's underlying messages, you will appreciate the way District 9 comments on race, colonialism, and the abuse of civil liberties. The movie is best suited for mature viewers who like sci-fi that challenges them, as opposed to light entertainment. It's not always comfortable, but that discomfort is the point.
Strange World (2022)
If you loved Avatar for its stunning colors and exotic planetary landscape, you'll love Strange World. Heavily inspired by Journey to the Center of the Earth, the movie follows a family who must search for a new energy source. But in the process, they learn about the fragile balance that holds the environment in equilibrium. It's a great and colorful adventure that has sadly and unfairly been overlooked.
Strange World leans into pulpy sci-fi visuals. But beneath the fancy stuff is a thoughtful story about the choices people make for future generations, which makes the movie ideal for anyone who enjoys adventure with an environmentally conscious message. Much like Avatar, it reminds us that progress with no balance comes at a price.
