Is the movie 'War of the Worlds' the most poorly-received film of the year 2025?
In the realm of science fiction films, the 2025 adaptation of H.G. Wells' classic novel War of the Worlds has sparked a wave of controversy and criticism. Starring Ice Cube as Homeland Security surveillance and threat assessment expert Will Radford, the movie has been met with a barrage of negative reviews and reactions.
Critics and viewers alike have labelled the film as one of the worst of 2025, citing a poorly written script, unengaging performances, and questionable CGI effects. The movie's confinement to computer screens and excessive product placement, particularly for Amazon, have also drawn significant criticism.
One of the most noted issues is Ice Cube's character, who is portrayed as a lone government spy isolated in a giant Homeland Security building with no apparent co-workers. This setup has led to a static and unengaging experience for many viewers. Furthermore, several VFX shots reveal green screen reflections in Ice Cube's glasses, indicating low production values.
The film is also accused of pushing capitalist and surveillance state propaganda under the guise of science fiction. The storyline is described as thin, with predictable plot twists and an overreliance on product placement for Amazon-affiliated products.
YouTube reviewers such as Vetz have ranked the film on their 10 worst movies of 2025 list, labelling it as "absolute trash." Users across TikTok and X have poked fun at the acting, dialogue, oversimplified device hacking, and heavy-handed messaging about mass government surveillance and conspiracy theories.
Despite some minor defenders who see the film as a "guilty pleasure," the negative consensus is overwhelming. The film has been labelled as "a cinematic atrocity," "shockingly inept," and "utterly braindead," with some suggesting it tarnishes the legacy of H.G. Wells' classic story.
The film currently holds a 3% rating on the Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes and a 21% rating on the Popcornmeter. On the movie tracking platform Letterboxd, the film averaged just 1 star from the roughly 90,000 people who logged having watched it.
Despite the negative reception, the film has managed to create a buzz on the internet, with clips from the film and Ice Cube's reactions being turned into memes and GIFs. The film even has a place on the online database Know Your Meme.
As of now, there has been no public statement made by director Rich Lee or the cast regarding the negative reception of the film. However, the poor reviews and criticism have not gone unnoticed, and the film's legacy as a disappointing adaptation of a classic science fiction novel seems secure.
[1] Vetz, YouTube Channel, "10 Worst Movies of 2025," [Link to video] [2] Letterboxd User, "War of the Worlds (2025)," [Link to review] [3] TikTok User, "War of the Worlds (2025) Review," [Link to video] [4] X User, "War of the Worlds (2025) Review," [Link to review] [5] Entertainment Weekly, "War of the Worlds (2025) Review," [Link to review]
- Despite the overwhelmingly negative reception, the movie's poor performance on rating sites and critics' lists hasn't stopped it from gaining notoriety in the realm of pop-culture and entertainment, as it has been meme'd and discussed extensively on various social media platforms.
- In the face of criticism, the movie's portrayal of capitalist and surveillance state propaganda in a science fiction context has sparked debates in the broader spectrum of pop-culture, affecting both movies-and-tv discourse and larger discussions about the capital city's role in propagating such agendas.
