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If you have to watch one Disney+ movie this February 2025, stream this one

Avatar 2
20th Century Studios

February is a terrible month. It has a few OK holidays, and at least it’s short, but in much of the country, it is cold, dark, and terrible. If you’re looking for something to do on one of those miserable February days, we’ve got a movie that might be perfect.

Even though it and its sequel are two of the highest-grossing films ever made, Avatar doesn’t have a sterling reputation. The film was a groundbreaking theatrical experience, sure, but does the movie really hold up when you’re just watching it on your couch? It absolutely does, and here are three reasons you should make time for it this month:

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We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.

The spectacle holds up

Avatar | Official Trailer (HD) | 20th Century FOX

Avatar came out in 2009, so it would be understandable, and even forgivable, if much of the CGI didn’t hold up today. Instead, Avatar will leave you wondering why more movies don’t employ CGI to create colorful, vibrant worlds that feel real.

Avatar: The Way of Water definitely has better graphics, but Avatar is a reminder that, when it’s done well, CGI can feel just as vibrant and real as anything else on a movie screen, and just as importantly, that great CGI can stand the test of time. Pandora is just as inviting as ever.

The story is better than you remember

Sam Worthington as a Na'vi in Avatar close-up
20th Century Studios

The main knock on Avatar has always been that its story is a little basic. It’s Dances With Wolves or Pocahontas, a tale of a white man “going native” and ultimately battling against the culture he was once a part of.

All of that’s true, but James Cameron can make these familiar narrative beats feel fresh and distinctly emotional. You might have seen the fall of Hometree in half a dozen movies before, but Cameron manages to capture that moment with a sense of scale and raw hurt that are basically unmatched.

Zoe Saldana is incredible in it

Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana fall in love on Pandora.
20th Century Studios

The other gaping hole many have highlighted in Avatar is Sam Worthington, the film’s lead. And it’s true, that performance is certainly not the best thing about the film. Sitting right next to Worthington, though, is a truly incredible motion capture performance from Zoe Saldaña, who plays Jake’s romantic interest Neytiri.

Neytiri may start as something of a stereotypical savage warrior princess, but she evolves into something much more ruthless and fascinating as the movie progresses. Saldana understands how the mo-cap is reading her perfectly and knows just how much to emote so that we always know exactly what her character is thinking and how she’s feeling.

Stream Avatar on Disney+.

Joe Allen
Joe Allen is a freelance writer at Digital Trends, where he covers Movies and TV. He frequently writes streaming…
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Kimi (2022)
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The Fallout | Official Trailer | HBO Max
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Blue Velvet (1986)
Blue Velvet Official Trailer #1 - Dennis Hopper Movie (1986) HD

David Lynch may be one of the greatest American directors ever, and Blue Velvet was the moment we fully understood what his career would be like. The movie stars Kyle MacLachlan as a normal kid who slowly becomes ensnared in the criminal underground of his seemingly normal town.

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The Haunting Bly Manor on Netflix

It can be comforting to watch the same shows over and over again, but sometimes, you might be looking for something that breaks up the tedium. Netflix is filled with interesting shows, but knowing where to start can be a challenge.
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Penelope (2024)
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One Day (2024)
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A woman and man sit on a patio looking at papers in I Want You Back.

February is the month of romance, with Valentine’s Day right smack dab in the middle. Whether you plan to go out for a fancy dinner with your partner, hang out with pals, celebrate with the kids, or down a pint of ice cream on your own, the best way to end the evening is with a good rom-com.
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Modern Love (2019)
Modern Love - Official Trailer | Prime Video
An Amazon Original anthology series, the great thing about Modern Love is that you can read the recaps of each episode and pick the ones you want to watch. Since it’s an anthology series, each episode stands on its own and tells a different and unique story of love. The first, for example, follows Maggie (The Penguin’s Cristin Milioti), a single woman in New York who sparks up a friendship with Guzman (Laurentiu Possa), the doorman in her building. He provides dating advice as she navigates various relationships, not all of which he approves.
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Stream Modern Love on Amazon Prime Video.
Some Like It Hot (1959)
Some Like It Hot (1959) Trailer | MGM Studios
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