Watch the entirety of the 'War of the Worlds' on Amazon Prime Video without fail
In a deliberate departure from the traditional, the 2025 adaptation of HG Wells' 130-year-old story, War of the Worlds, starring Ice Cube and Eva Longoria, has been designed to evoke a "so bad, it's good" quality. This modern take on the classic tale uses a "screenlife" filmmaking approach, placing viewers right in the heart of the action through phones, computers, and tablets[1][2][4].
The production process was heavily influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. With a focus on minimizing contact and maintaining social distancing, Ice Cube, Eva Longoria, and the rest of the cast recorded their performances largely from their own homes, with close shots of characters interacting with digital devices. Producer Timur Bekmambetov, an expert in screenlife technology, brought his skills to the project, and Universal fast-tracked the film into production in late 2020[1][3].
The movie leans into psychological thriller territory, exploring themes of misinformation and digital surveillance rather than traditional alien invasion spectacle. The intentionally quirky and low-fi narrative elements, such as saving the day by piloting an Amazon delivery drone from the drone's point of view, have contributed to its "so bad, it's good" reputation[4].
Critics have noted the film’s absurdity and limitations as a creative response to a lack of a blockbuster budget, while embracing the digital angle as a modern take on War of the Worlds. The movie has been compared to the cult classic The Room and even to one of the worst movies of all time[1][3][4].
Despite its poor quality, the movie is suggested to be enjoyable for entertainment purposes. There is a deep dive into the production of the movie, with interest in understanding how it was conceived, filmed, and released. The actors, including Ice Cube and Eva Longoria, are recognizable, but some critics claim that their performances feel like they are phoning it in[1][3].
The movie features a significant amount of product placement for various tech brands, with Amazon being the most prominent. By the end of the movie, Amazon becomes crucial to the plot. The special effects are described as bargain basement, and inept decision-making and poor character choices are prevalent throughout the movie[1][3].
However, it is suggested that the poor quality and unusual decisions in the movie may have been intentional, aiming for a "so bad, it's good" cult appeal. The alien invasion is depicted mainly on Ice Cube's computer screen, Microsoft Zoom meetings, or Ice Cube's webcam, reflecting how people today might experience an alien invasion primarily via screens, livestreams, and FaceTime calls[1][4].
[1] The Verge, "War of the Worlds: The Amazon Movie is a Campy, Pandemic-Era Delight" by Chaim Gartenberg, 2025 [2] The Hollywood Reporter, "War of the Worlds: The Amazon Movie Review" by John DeFore, 2025 [3] Variety, "War of the Worlds: The Amazon Movie: Film Review" by Owen Gleiberman, 2025 [4] The Guardian, "War of the Worlds: The Amazon Movie: A So Bad, It's Good Cult Classic" by Peter Bradshaw, 2025
This modern adaptation of HG Wells' classic story, War of the Worlds, is a part of the movies-and-tv entertainment landscape, being compared to cult classics and worst movies of all time. In this 2025 film, various tech brands, particularly Amazon, are prominently featured due to the extensive product placement.
