Alien Invasion Film "War of the Worlds" Unveiled at Actual Pub Venue
The 2025 film adaptation of H.G. Wells' classic science fiction story, War of the Worlds, has made headlines for an unusual reason – it has received a rare 0% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Directed by Rich Lee and distributed by Universal, the film has become a topic of discussion due to its widespread critical dissatisfaction.
Despite the low scores, War of the Worlds has achieved unexpected commercial success, becoming Prime Video's most-watched movie globally. This indicates a strong audience interest that seems to be irrespective of critical opinion.
The primary reasons for this success can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the film's wide streaming availability on Amazon Prime Video has helped it gain high viewership numbers that do not necessarily correlate with critical approval.
Secondly, the star power of Ice Cube, who plays the lead role as a father, and the built-in audience from the original story likely attracted viewers out of curiosity or fandom. The film's setting entirely within a U.S. Department of Homeland Security employee's office and the use of computer and smartphone screens filled with chat windows, video conferences, and surveillance footage have also sparked curiosity.
Thirdly, unlike theatrical releases judged heavily by box office and critic reviews, streaming hits can depend more on how many people click to watch initially and continue viewing. This shows that commercial success can diverge significantly from critical ratings.
Lastly, while critics have given the film very low scores, some audience groups may find entertainment value in aspects overlooked or disliked by critics, such as novelty, genre appeal, or cultural resonance with certain demographics.
In summary, War of the Worlds' success despite a 0% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes can be attributed to its wide streaming availability, popular casting, built-in audience from the original story, and a viewer base whose tastes differ considerably from those of critics.
The negative reviews of the film have, in fact, generated public interest and discussion. However, some viewers have expressed criticism towards the film, such as "This film should have been an email." Others have labelled it as the ultimate badge of shame due to its 0% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Joining the list of films with a 0% score on Rotten Tomatoes are the 3D version of The Nutcracker opera and films like Pinocchio and Baby Geniuses 2. As the debate surrounding War of the Worlds continues, it serves as a reminder that audience tastes and critical opinions can often diverge.
Regarding the unusual success of War of the Worlds, despite its 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, its streaming availability on Amazon Prime Video, the popularity of Ice Cube's casting, and the built-in audience from the original story may have attracted a viewer base with tastes differing from critics. Also, the film's setting and use of futuristic technology within its storyline could have sparked viewer curiosity.
