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John Wick: Chapter 4 First Reviews: The Best in the Franchise, with Epic Wall-to-Wall Action

Critics say the latest john wick adventure might be the best action film of the year, full of spectacular thrills, memorable supporting performances, and at least one set piece you won't forget..

Here’s what critics are saying about John Wick: Chapter 4 :

Where does it rank in the franchise?

John Wick: Chapter 4 outdoes its formidable predecessors in nearly every respect. –  Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

John Wick: Chapter 4 once again exceeds expectations. –  Jeff Nelson, Showbiz Cheat Sheet

It is the most John Wick movie. And it is the best John Wick movie. –  Tom Jorgensen, IGN Movies

John Wick: Chapter 4 takes cinema to the next level once again. –  Fred Topel, United Press International

There’s a strong argument to be made that it’s the best of the sequels. –  Eric Eisenberg, Cinema Blend

It may not be consistent enough to rank as the franchise’s finest, but when it gets going, it cooks with gas. –  Nick Schager, The Daily Beast

In this gradual development and expansion of the Wickaverse, the filmmakers seem to have lost the thread of what makes the first and, at times, second film in the series work so well. –  Derek Smith, Slant Magazine

(Photo by ©Lionsgate)

Will it go down as one of the best action movies ever?

John Wick: Chapter 4 is one of the best modern American action films this side of a Mission: Impossible . –  Aaron Neuwirth, We Live Entertainment

John Wick: Chapter 4 stands above… the past decade’s worth of action films as a whole. – Tom Jorgensen, IGN Movies

This fourth adventure — like those that preceded it — thrillingly and savagely slays its modern action competition. – Nick Schager, The Daily Beast

John Wick: Chapter 4 is one of the best action movies of the past few years. –  JimmyO, JoBlo’s Movie Network

John Wick: Chapter 4 boasts truly innovative action — not only by the standards of the John Wick series, but also for all of cinema. – Fred Topel, United Press International

This is sure to become a highly rewatched, often quoted classic. –  Alan French, Sunshine State Cineplex

What other movies could we compare it to?

John Wick: Chapter 4 feels like the first John Wick movie that wants to be a Clint Eastwood spaghetti Western. It’s like Sergio Leone crossed with John Woo. –  Owen Gleiberman, Variety

It fits in with the likes of Leone, Walter Hill, John Woo, and George Miller. – Aaron Neuwirth, We Live Entertainment

It is near non-stop wall-to-wall combat, car chases, and shoot-outs on a level not seen since Mad Max: Fury Road . –  Karl Delossantos, Smash Cut Reviews

It’s the best American action blockbuster since George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road . –  Rafael Motamayor, IndieWire

(Photo by Murray Close/©Lionsgate)

Does Chad Stahelski outdo himself?

Chad Stahelski has once again delivered the goods and then some. –  Dan Bayer, Next Best Picture

Director Chad Stahelski, who helmed all the previous films, and his formidable stunt team have outshone their previous work, and that’s saying something. – Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

John Wick: Chapter 4 strongly suggests that he is the finest Hollywood director of gun battles, fist fights, sword duels, and car chases working at the moment. –  Jacob Hall, Slashfilm

Throughout John Wick: Chapter 4 director Chad Stahelski has been flexing his directorial muscles with extended action scenes that have a visual style and cohesion that highlights how he’s become one of the best action filmmakers in the world. And then in the wild finale, Stahelski pulls out all the stops. –  Sean Mulvihill, Mulviews

Chad Stahelski lacks the showman’s instinct for building and payoff. –  Charles Bramesco, Guardian

So the action is good?

Stunt coordinator Scott Rogers makes a bombastic return, choreographing the most bonkers fight sequences ever to hit the silver screen. – Jeff Nelson, Showbiz Cheat Sheet

John… participates in perhaps the greatest action sequence of all time. – Karl Delossantos, Smash Cut Reviews

The action in John Wick: Chapter 4 is out of this world fantastic. – Dan Bayer, Next Best Picture

Between the range of action we see, the creativity of the various settings and set pieces, and the way Reeves acts all through it, it’s a true wonder to behold. – Aaron Neuwirth, We Live Entertainment

Every action scene in John Wick: Chapter 4 could be the climax of any other movie. There is no small fight in this movie. – Fred Topel, United Press International

The final hour of the film is essentially one large action scene, and one staged with such bravura skill and visual wit that it exposes the vast majority of American action direction as the lazy sham it is. – Jacob Hall, Slashfilm

Does it get a little ridiculous?

This is a nutso film packed with over-the-top characters, on-the-nose line readings, and skewed levels of plausibility that rival the Fast & Furious franchise. However, once again, this series stays true to itself. – Aaron Neuwirth, We Live Entertainment

It is patently ridiculous and mostly very fun: the platonic ideal of a globe-hopping meatbag action thriller taken to its gloriously illogical extreme. –  Leah Greenblatt, Entertainment Weekly

The action in John Wick movies wouldn’t seem out of place in Looney Tunes . For Chapter 4 , the filmmakers seem in on the joke though as there’s a playfulness to the set pieces. –  Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy

With a willingness to use slapstick in the middle of action beats, John Wick: Chapter 4 is maybe the funniest entry in the series. –  Brandon Zachary, CBR.com

Is there more to enjoy than just the action?

The secret weapon of the John Wick films has always been the emotion that fuels John… The fact that this latest film ends in such a character-focused way inspires awe of a different, incredibly welcome kind. – Dan Bayer, Next Best Picture

Director Chad Stahelski and screenwriters Shay Hatten and Michael Finch carry through themes surrounding consequence and the passage of time while also strengthening them with added sentiments on absolution, fate, fidelity and friendship. –  Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction

This is a movie that looks not forward toward some cash-grab sequel, but toward the past and how we got here… [It’s] the most emotionally resonant movie of the franchise. – Rafael Motamayor, IndieWire

How does the movie look?

This movie is gorgeous. It’s a symphony of violence, wonderfully captured by cinematographer Dan Lausten… Every shot of this film has something going on. – Aaron Neuwirth, We Live Entertainment

For a series which has always looked stylish as hell, Chapter 4 sets a new standard for production design and cinematography. – Tom Jorgensen, IGN Movies

Cinematographer Dan Laustsen’s lush visuals makes sure the film is dazzling to look at even when there isn’t any action happening. – Dan Bayer, Next Best Picture

Through cinematographer Dan Laustsen’s lens, the saturated colorscape burns vivid and vibrant. He captures an incredibly seductive depth of field with the imagery, making the characters and action pop. – Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction

What about Keanu Reeves’ performance?

Reeves truly continues to impress, seemingly getting better at this stuff with each franchise. –  Pete Hammond, Deadline Hollywood Daily

Keanu Reeves continues his action-hero dominance with another incredibly physical, supernaturally charismatic performance that pushes the boundaries of what any actor should be willing to put themselves through but he seems to take great pleasure in with tremendous skill. – Dan Bayer, Next Best Picture

Reeves does solid work bringing out flashes of humanity and exhaustion in the character, even as he dispatches untold numbers of enemies through plenty of amazing stunt work. – Brandon Zachary, CBR.com

Reeves might have fewer lines in this film than any so far in the franchise, but he completely sells Wick’s commitment while also imbuing him with emotional exhaustion that adds more gravity to this chapter. –  Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com

How is the film’s villain?

Skarsgård builds depth and dimension into his ostentatious, arrogant, weaselly baddie. – Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction

While Skarsgård’s Gramont is an arrogant upper-cruster who likes to hold court in the Louvre and the Paris Opera House, he’s more of a functional than unique villain. – Nick Schager, The Daily Beast

What lets Chapter 4 down is its central villain. Bill Skarsgård is entertaining… but there’s no development there. – Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy

Does anyone in the cast stand out?

Donnie Yen delivers such a physically witty and charismatic performance that you can’t wait for the inevitable spinoff. – Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

The legendary Donnie Yen gives a brilliant performance and effortlessly steals scenes as Caine. –  Simon Thompson, The Playlist

Honorable mention to Scott Adkins, whose scene-stealing turn as a purple-clad, poker-playing gangster with chrome-plated front teeth deserves its own spinoff. –  Brent Hankins, The Lamplight Review

Shamier Anderson, playing a new character… is destined to be a fan-favorite (and whose loyal dog nearly walks away with the movie). –  Jacob Hall, Slashfilm

Anderson steals the film during several scenes… It’s a star-making supporting role, and we would love to see him headline his own franchise in the near future. – Alan French, Sunshine State Cineplex

Rina Sawayama is an absolute firecracker in her film debut. – Dan Bayer, Next Best Picture

Ian McShane and Lance Reddick are given their moments to shine. They both make a meal out of their screen time. –  Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction

Will we feel the runtime?

At just hair under three hours, John Wick: Chapter 4 is indulgent for sure, but it’s earned the running time at this point. – Jacob Hall, Slashfilm

John Wick: Chapter 4 can certainly be accused of being too long. But I doubt many fans will be complaining. – Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

Is Chapter 4 too long? You bet it is… yet the movie is conceived as a knowingly overstuffed gift to John Wick fans, and on that level it succeeds. –  Owen Gleiberman, Variety

In an age of increased grumbling about films with two-plus-hour runtimes, Chapter 4’ s roaring pace serves as a counter argument that proclaims movies should be as long as they need to be. – Tom Jorgensen, IGN Movies

Don’t let the length fool you; John Wick: Chapter 4 may be the most exhilarating two-hour and thirty-eight minutes you’ll spend in theaters this year. – JimmyO, JoBlo’s Movie Network

I do think there’s a slightly tighter (if you can say 150 minutes would be tight) version of this film that’s simply perfect. – Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com

John Wick: Chapter 4 opens in theaters everywhere on March 24, 2023.

Thumbnail image by Murray Close/©Lionsgate

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Review by Brian Eggert May 26, 2013

Imagine a mixture between FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992), Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989), and the French documentary Microcosmos (1996), and you’ll have some idea of what to expect from Epic , the latest from Blue Sky Studios and Twentieth Century Fox Animation. In this CG-animated adventure, a young woman is shrunk down in her father’s backyard, where she discovers a miniature world in which the forces of Nature fight the elements of decay. Based on the book The Leaf Men and The Brave Good Bugs by William Joyce ( Rise of the Guardians ), the story was adapted by no less than five credited screenwriters, and the film feels predictably disjointed and uneven. Only the very young will draw much from the generic storytelling, while the handsome animation of the natural world is wasted on dull characters and unexciting situations.

In the opening narration, we’re told of an enduring battle between the two-inch-tall Leaf Men who defend the forests from the evil Boggans—hordes of gross insects and undesirable mammals who promote rot. Rather than suggest this struggle is part of the Circle of Life, the plot offers a lot of high-stakes magic mumbo-jumbo as opposed to any lesson about the necessary evils in Nature. For example, among the “evil” elements of the Boggans are bats and spiders. There’s no mention of how such creatures actually help balance Nature, probably because it’s easier to demonize them for being traditionally ugly. Good then are flowers, hummingbirds, and all things pretty. Charged with bringing life to the forest is Queen Tara (voice of Beyoncé Knowles), while her opposite, hell-bent on destroying all green life, is Boggan leader Mandrake (voice of Christoph Waltz). The fate of the forest rests on Queen Tara choosing her replacement through a lily pod: if the pod blooms in moonlight, the forest will flourish; if it blooms in darkness, the forest will decompose.

After learning about this conflict, the movie takes a step back and introduces us to the late-teens human Mary Katherine (voice of Amanda Seyfried), who’s the kind of engineered-to-be-accessible children’s movie character that wears a hoodie, carries an iPhone, and wants to be called “M.K.” for short. She returns home after the death of her mother to rekindle her relationship with her father, Professor Bomba (voice of Jason Sudeikis), a scientist obsessed with the little men in his backyard. Just when M.K. resolves that he’s nutso for believing in imaginary Leaf Men, the dying Queen Tara’s magic shrinks M.K. down and makes her the protector of the crucial lily pod. Now exposed to the tiny empire hidden on her father’s property, she teams with the Queen’s top general, Ronin (voice of Colin Farrell), and an impetuous young soldier, Nod (Josh Hutcherson), to prevent Mandrake’s forces from putrefying the forest for all time. Meanwhile, Nod and M.K. form an unlikely romance, which presents all sorts of weird questions about their biological compatibility.

The story may have benefited from a slower leap into the forest world. The opening scenes take place in the tiny woodland kingdom, outlining the stakes there before we ever get to know M.K., whereas discovering the world through M.K.’s outsider viewpoint may have been a better introductory choice (think Avatar ). As a result, M.K. feels peripheral in a story populated with far too many characters, most of them with daddy issues. Ronin tries to play father to Nod, whose own father died tragically. Mandrake’s son dies early in the story, sparking his thirst for fatherly revenge against Ronin. M.K.’s relationship with her father is rocky too, until she realizes he was right all along. And when these characters aren’t dealing with child angst (obviously designed to bring children in the audience closer to their own parents), the movie employs a number of mundane subplots and supporting players who feel all too familiar.

Fox hired celebrities indiscriminately to voice Epic , some appropriately cast and others selected for name recognition. Waltz is an effectively voiced villain, of course; but Seyfried and Knowles give almost no personality to their roles. Certainly, the filmmakers could have found someone better than Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler to voice the wise glowworm Nim Galuu, or rapper Pitbull to voice the shady frog Bufo. Comedians Aziz Ansari and Chris O’Dowd voice comic relief characters Mub and Grub, a pair of wisecracking mollusks, but their antics grow tiresome. Funnier is M.K.’s wordless dog, a three-legged, one-eyed pug named Ozzie. Perhaps the voice cast shouldn’t be blamed, since the writers failed to pen compelling dialogue or scenarios; instead, every role is a cliché inside a formula wrapped in a derivation and topped with a dash of boring.

Director Chris Wedge (one-half of the team that created Ice Age ) mishandles a world that would have been boundless in the hands of Studio Ghibli animator Hayao Miyazaki ( Princess Mononoke ), and his lackluster efforts leave the result feeling limited and under-developed. Epic feels deliberately and systematically packaged for kiddies, and indeed only the very young will likely find pleasure in its mediocrity. As the title suggests, it has the potential of epic-sized animation, yet all of that budding possibility is squandered on standardization, and therefore nothing resonates. Instead of exploring this world through an economy of plotting and a sense of wonder that make Studio Ghibli or Pixar films benchmark, the proceedings are muddled with familiar components strewn together into an inelegant whole. Unmemorable and unable to make an impression, the movie offers little more than pretty colors to distract us.

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Napoleon Reviews Tease Epic Battle Scenes & Magnificent Performances

Napoleon debuts with a high score on Rotten Tomatoes as first reviews celebrate Ridley Scott's latest film.

• The film Napoleon , directed by Ridley Scott, promises a visually epic and explosive adventure with brilliant performances from Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby.
• While the movie is praised for its grand scale and fun factor, it falls short in developing the main character and lacks insights into Napoleon's motivations and the geopolitical context.
• Despite its flaws, Napoleon offers a confounding experience that subverts traditional historical epics, with Scott's signature spectacle and a surprisingly funny tone.

The release of Napoleon is just around the corner, and after the film's debut at its world premiere in Paris, the first reviews and the Rotten Tomatoes score have surfaced online. And both tease a new epic adventure from Ridley Scott , with some brilliant performances from Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby. Awards season is approaching, and the competition is getting fiercer. After directors like Christopher Nolan and Martin Scorsese wowed audiences once again with Oppenheimer and Killers of the Flower Moon , Scott seeks to become another strong contender for the next Academy Awards with Napoleon , the biopic of the famous French military leader and politician.

With an incredible cast led by the Oscar winner and Joker star Joaquin Phoenix and Oscar nominee Vanessa Kirby, Napoeleon reconstructs part of the life of the titular character, exploring his relationship with Josephine, and showing some of the most epic battles he fought while trying to carry out his plan to conquer as much territory as he could.

At the time of writing this article, the film has a score of 80% on Rotten Tomatoes , and early reactions tease a visually epic and explosive movie, with memorable performances, but some flaws in the script.

The True Story Behind Ridley Scott’s Napoleon, Explained

Napoleon is as epic as it is fun, reviews declare.

ScreenRant's Graeme Guttmann teases a complicated love story:

"To say Napoleon is a love story may sound strange, but in many ways, the film is driven by the conqueror's erratic desire — for victory, for Josephine, for a male heir, and France. That France often loves him back is a wonder in itself, but Scott's film does not seem to say the same. It does not lionize the figure nor does it crucify him. Napoleon doesn't even really try to tell the history of France's most tumultuous period with any sort of coherence. Instead, like the man himself, Napoleon is a confounding film, as exciting as it is plodding and as self-aware of its flaws as Napoleon was blind to his own."

Ross Bonaime from Collider celebrates Phoenix's and Kirby's performances:

"Napoleon is a grand film, both in terms of Scott creating a story with a size we’ve rarely seen from him, and the bold, large choices made by a completely game Phoenix. Between films like Napoleon, The Last Duel, and 2015's The Martian, we're still getting peak Scott, and it's hard to watch Napoleon and not think that Phoenix and Kirby are two of the best actors working today. It's fascinating to watch this trifecta work together here. Napoleon might've been a notoriously small emperor, but there's nothing minuscule about what Scott is doing with Napoleon."

Nicholas Barber from BBC says the movie is epic and fun, but it sadly fails to deeply develop its main character:

"Scene by scene, his proper, old-fashioned historical epic is terrific fun. But it lacks insights into who Napoleon is or what he wants, where he comes from or why he is such a success. Nor does it delve below the surface of the geopolitics around him. It is never clear why he is fighting a particular battle or signing a particular treaty, and because it isn't clear, it is difficult to care about their outcomes."

Empire's Catherine Bray thinks the movie is kind of a contradiction:

"The marketing for Napoleon did a bang-up job of making Ridley Scott’s take on the French emperor’s rise and fall look very grandiose and serious. But that’s not exactly what the film is like: this is a historical epic which is constantly on the lookout for subtle ways to undercut historical epics."

Variety's Peter Debruge believes the film forgets about its protagonist by focusing on the big battles :

"If the goal was to reevaluate Napoleon's career in the context of whatever power Josephine held over him, then surely it could have been done with fewer battle scenes and a sharper depiction of the who's-controlling-whom dynamic between them. In the end, Napoleon seems less enamored with his subject than any previous telling of his exploits, referencing the 3 million lives lost under his campaigns. Scott may be skeptical of the man, but he can't resist the desire to re-create some of history's most notorious conflicts, and his psychology is sacrificed for the sake of spectacle."

David Ehrlich from IndieWire describes it as unexpectedly fun:

"Watching Napoleon — or at least the choppy and somewhat formless 157-minute version of it that will be released into theaters in advance of the much longer director’s cut that fans will invariably claim as a masterpiece at a later date — I couldn’t help but feel like Scott may have been caught off-guard himself. There’s no doubt he knew the film would be funny, but he seems to have been surprised by how far that funniness would take it, and/or unwilling to concede how little everything else would matter."

Napoleon is scheduled to be released in the United States on November 22, 2023, by Sony Pictures Releasing, before streaming on Apple TV+ at a later date. Check out the trailer below:

The 13 Best Action Movies of the Last Decade, Ranked According to Rotten Tomatoes

If you're in the mood for modern action hits, these movies have your number.

The action movie genre has certainly seen its fair share of ups and downs over the year. Since 2014, however, it has arguably been in one of its best eras, one full of thrilling masterpieces that offer worldwide audiences suspenseful set pieces, creatively filmed death-defying stunts, and gripping stories holding it all together.

Over the course of the last decade, many action films have earned the favor of critics on the review-aggregating site Rotten Tomatoes . From a box office-breaking cultural phenomenon like Top Gun: Maverick to a smaller, much more underrated film like '71 , these highly acclaimed action flicks prove the genre is at the top of its game nowadays.

13 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' (2023)

Rotten tomatoes tomatometer score: 95%.

2023 saw the release of more outstanding films than the average movie fan can count, including some of the best action movies of the last 10 years. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is one of them, an adventure moving at breakneck speed where Miles Morales travels throughout the multiverse facing a growingly powerful villain.

Critics had extremely few negative things to say about this introduction to an exciting two-parter. They celebrated the dazzling animation, striking use of color, and mature, exciting story , calling for more superhero movies to have so much charm and heart and for more animated films to be so passionate about what the medium is able to achieve.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

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12 'Riders of Justice' (2020)

Rotten tomatoes tomatometer score: 96%.

Mostly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent scarcity of new films, 2020 wasn't the best year for action cinema — with some noteworthy exceptions. One of them was Riders of Justice , a Danish dramedy about a military man whose wife died in a tragic accident. What at first seemed like simple bad luck may turn out to be a carefully planned assassination.

One can never go wrong with Mads Mikkelsen as a movie's leading man . This darkly amusing, terrifically fun revenge thriller offers plenty of proof of that. On Rotten Tomatoes, critics praised the clever balance between violent action and smart character work , thanks to the incredibly creative and lively direction of Anders Thomas Jensen .

Riders of Justice

11 ''71' (2014).

You don't hear many people talk about it much these days, but the British war drama '71 is highly praised as one of the best action movies in the last 10 years for a reason. It's the tense, gritty story of a young soldier caught behind enemy lines after his unit accidentally leaves him following a violent conflict in Belfast.

'71 is one of the best movies ever made about The Troubles in Northern Ireland, with a mesmerizing lead performance by Jack O'Connell and masterfully crafted action scenes. Critics were particularly impressed by how it struck a balance between showing respect for historical events and being an enthralling action thriller , something that's not often seen in the modern movie landscape.

Watch on Tubi

10 'Top Gun: Maverick' (2022)

Praised as the movie that saved the box office and resurrected the theater-going experience post-pandemic, Top Gun: Maverick exceeded all expectations when it came out. Set nearly four decades after Top Gun , this outstanding legacy sequel sees Maverick return to TOPGUN to confront his past while training a group of young pilots.

Nearly all critics evidently jumped in on the hype train for Maverick . They agreed that it far surpassed its predecessor in every way that mattered, delivering a fun and even slightly meta action film that made great use of nostalgia while standing on its own merits. Action films that are intelligently written without forgetting to be fun are few and far between, and this is certainly one of them.

Top Gun: Maverick

9 'mission: impossible — dead reckoning, part one' (2023).

The bar was set extremely high for Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning, Part One , the latest installment in one of the best modern action franchises , where practically every new movie is better than the last. In Ethan Hunt's most recent mission, he and his team must retrieve a new weapon that could threaten all of humanity if it fell into the wrong hands.

Dead Reckoning, Part One met critics' high expectations and then some. They called its potentially catastrophic stakes incredibly engaging , its epic set pieces some of the most impressive and nail-biting of the whole franchise, and the story fully engaging. Even if the film didn't perform particularly well at the box office, it definitely won over critics and audiences' hearts.

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One

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8 'Black Panther' (2018)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has had its fair share of critically acclaimed action adventures, but Black Panther remains the franchise's highest-rated entry on Rotten Tomatoes . It's the story of T'Challa ( Chadwick Boseman ), heir to the throne of Wakanda, who is trying to guide his country to a new future while facing an enemy from his country's past.

With a thematically powerful and emotionally resonant story, an ensemble of memorable performances, and some of the most fun action sequences in the entire MCU, Black Panther makes it clear why critics and audiences alike love it so much . Ryan Coogler 's direction is vibrant and makes Wakanda feel rich and lived-in, resulting in a story that's genuinely spellbinding and an awful lot of fun.

Black Panther

7 'kubo and the two strings' (2016), rotten tomatoes tomatometer score: 97%.

Laika has placed itself at the forefront of modern American stop-motion animation thanks to magical movies like Kubo and the Two Strings . This criminally underrated action-adventure film is about a boy named Kubo, who must find his late father's magic armor to defeat a vengeful spirit.

Visually striking and thoroughly engaging thanks to its fun story and interesting characters, Kubo stands out as a family film so absorbing and beautifully made that absolutely anyone can enjoy it, no matter their age. Critics called it ambitious and visually stunning, also praising its melancholy story and delightful character building.

Kubo and the Two Strings

6 'the mitchells vs. the machines' (2021).

Sony Pictures Animation has slowly been proving that it's a force to be reckoned with in modern animation, thanks to movies like The Mitchells vs. the Machines . This hilariously over-the-top family comedy is about a quirky and dysfunctional family, whose road trip is interrupted by no less than the robot apocalypse.

The Mitchells is one of the most visually stunning animated movies of all time, as well as having great sound design and music. The film's main strength, however, comes from its funny feel-good story about family relationships and humanity's dependence on technology. With its incredibly dynamic and colorful set pieces, it's one of the best action movies of the last 5 years.

The Mitchells vs. the Machines

5 'spider-man: into the spider-verse' (2018).

Hardly anyone would have expected Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse to become the massive pop culture sensation that it did, but the world is all the better for it. It follows Miles Morales, a teenager who becomes his universe's Spider-Man and must join a group of Spider-People to face a reality-threatening enemy.

Into the Spider-Verse gave fans around the world faith that animation is better than it has ever been and that the Wall-Crawler has an infinity of stories to tell. Rotten Tomatoes-approved critics were beyond impressed by the film, lauding its incredible animation, deeply enjoyable story, and abundance of humor and heart.

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse

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4 'Mission: Impossible — Fallout' (2018)

For those who love globe-trotting action movies full of twists and grand set pieces, Mission: Impossible — Fallout is an obligatory watch. The sixth installment in the Mission: Impossible franchise sees Ethan and his allies on a race against the clock to retrieve three plutonium cores after a mission goes awry.

Most critics on Rotten Tomatoes were surprised by just how exciting and fun Fallout was , expressing absolute delight at the story full of turns, the biggest action set pieces in the franchise's history, and the endless entertainment value of the film. With a fun villain and a third act that's absolutely dripping suspense, Fallout proved that the franchise still had plenty of gas left in the tank.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout

3 'mad max: fury road' (2015).

It had been 30 years since the release of the last Mad Max movie by the time Fury Road came out and took the world by storm. A reboot of the quintessential low-budget Australian action franchise, it follows a ragtag group of characters as they escape a tyrannical ruler through a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

Less is more, indeed, as Fury Road manages to take a shockingly simple story and turn it into a high-octane action spectacle with relentless pacing, outstanding production qualities , and a story bound to keep viewers' eyes glued to the screen from beginning to end. Critics were astounded by what Miller and company achieved, and it isn't hard to see why.

Mad Max: Fury Road

Watch on Max

2 'Godzilla Minus One' (2023)

Rotten tomatoes tomatometer score: 98%.

Not since the original Godzilla in 1954 had the franchise delivered a film as genuinely incredible as Godzilla Minus One , which some would even dare to call better than the first. It finds post-WWII Japan at its lowest point when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster spawned by the horrific power of the atomic bomb. A disgraced kamikaze pilot becomes the country's last chance at survival.

Minus One takes everything that cinema's most iconic monster had come to represent up to that point, from the terror of nuclear power to the menace of political bureaucracy, and distills it into an epic period piece full of thrilling set pieces and fascinating characters. According to critics, it's films like this one that remind audiences of what kaiju movies are truly capable of , making it abundantly easy to call this one of the best action movies of this decade.

Godzilla Minus One

Watch in Cinemas

1 'WolfWalkers' (2020)

Rotten tomatoes tomatometer score: 99%.

Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon has cemented its place as one of the most exciting teams in the industry today, and Apple TV+ wanted in. Together, they made WolfWalkers , the touching story of a young apprentice hunter and her father helping to wipe out Ireland's last wolf pack. Everything changes, however, when the girl befriends a free-spirited girl from a mysterious tribe rumored to transform into wolves at night.

One of the best Apple TV+ original movies and one of the best action movies of the decade thus far, WolfWalkers is fantasy, animation, and children's action all at the peak of their emotional and narrative power. There are plenty of good reasons why this has nearly a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes : Critics were mesmerized by its profound story and themes, beautiful depiction of Celtic folklore, and stellar action sequences.

Wolfwalkers

NEXT: The Best Action Movies of All Time, Ranked

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Movie Reviews

If you haven't been back to the movies yet, indian epic 'rrr' is the reason to go.

John Powers

Ram Charan stars in RRR, an action-packed bromance set in India in the 1920s. Raftar Creations hide caption

Ram Charan stars in RRR, an action-packed bromance set in India in the 1920s.

If you're over the age of, say, 40, you will surely remember the 1975 cult phenomenon The Rocky Horror Picture Show . Weekend after weekend, year after year, decade after decade, audiences turned up at theaters — often dressed in corsets, fishnets and other costumes — to shriek out lines ahead of the characters and sing along with the songs.

I've never seen anything like it — until now. A few nights ago, I went to a packed screening of RRR , an epic action-picture bromance from India. The screening had 900 people — some of whom had already seen the film 10 times — clapping and dancing from the opening credits.

Made by box-office titan S.S. Rajamouli, RRR induces such unabashed giddiness in its audience that Hollywood is witnessing a push to get it nominated for the Oscars. Forget Best International Feature Film, folks are talking Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor. And having seen RRR twice myself, I'm part of the bandwagon.

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'rrr' is an interrrnational phenomenon.

Set during the British Raj in the 1920s, the movie tells the story of two heroes with impressive physiques and super-charged abilities. The tightly wound Ram — played by Ram Charan — works for the British as a crack military officer who we see quash a mass Indian uprising single-handed. His tiger-hunting counterpart, Bheem, played by N.T. Rama Rao, Jr., is a tribal villager who has come in disguise to Delhi to reclaim a young girl from his village who has been capriciously snatched by the evil wife of the evil British governor.

Ram and Bheem meet heroically while working in tandem to save a child from a train crashing into a river. Kindred in their bravery, they instantly become fast friends. But they don't know one important thing. While Bheem secretly opposes the governor, Ram is secretly working for him. They're bound for a head-on collision.

RRR — the title stands for Rise Roar Revolt — is populist filmmaking. Its emotions are simple, its anti-colonial politics broad. Rajamouli makes the British rulers of India even worse than they actually were, and they were mighty bad. But his mega-star lead actors play their roles with such ardent conviction that we don't merely believe in Ram and Bheem's friendship, we're moved by it. Rajamouli unfolds the many twists and turns of their story with such confidently rampaging energy that, by comparison, most Hollywood blockbusters feel anemic.

I'm normally bored by action sequences, but from the opening riot to the assault on the governor's mansion to the big prison escape — during which Ram rides atop Bheem's shoulders with guns ablazing — RRR contains more exciting action scenes than all the Marvel movies put together. Indeed, there's a slow-motion shot right before the intermission that is one of the most jaw dropping moments in the history of cinema. Just as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Matrix offered American viewers a new vision of action, so RRR possesses a delirious inventiveness and originality that audiences will love. And I haven't even mentioned the marvelous "Naatu Naatu" song-and-dance sequence that recalls the dance-off between the Jets and the Sharks in West Side Story , but is vastly more alive.

You can currently see RRR on Netflix, and it's a good enough movie that you'll enjoy it. But if you can — and I'd urge local theaters to bring it back — you should see it on a big screen. For two reasons. First, Rajamouli is in love with the sheer bigness that makes movies so much grander than TV. Bursting with fights, rescues, wild animals, surging crowds, sadistic monsters, larger-than-life showdowns and mythic transformations, RRR is not a movie that leaves you asking for more.

Indeed, in these days when the box-office is way down, movie chains are wobbling, and experts wonder whether the movies will even survive, RRR makes the case for returning to theaters. It reminds us that movies are always more thrilling when they're part of a collective experience, when you can share the excitement with the people around you. That excitement is electric when you watch RRR . You may well leave the theater humming the catchy tune, "Naatu Naatu."

‘Dune: Part Two’ Scores Stellar Reviews Ahead of March 1 Release: ‘The Definitive Sci-Fi Epic Of A Generation’

The blockbuster sequel is even better than 2021’s “Dune,” according to impressed critics.

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Dune: Part Two doesn’t hit theaters until March 1, but it’s already racking up some seriously impressive reviews from movie critics. The Denis Villeneuve-directed sci-fi epic, which picks up where the 2021 movie left off, currently boasts a 98% “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the highest-rated Dune adaptation yet by far.

The blockbuster sequel stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken and Léa Seydoux. The official plot synopsis is here:

Dune: Part Two will explore the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a path of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.

The sequel concludes the two-part saga based on Frank Herbert’s classic 1965 novel. Following the Dune: Part Two world premiere in London on February 15, the hotly-anticipated space opera received scores of gushing reviews, perhaps topped by one that called it “the definitive sci-fi epic of a generation.”

“ Dune Part Two is not only Denis’s magnum opus; it’s the definitive sci-fi epic of a generation,” FilmSpeak host  Griffin Schiller wrote . “A tragic tale of blind fanaticism & corruption. A spectacular, soulful, awe-inspiring masterclass of aesthetics & mood beautifully echoing Paul’s turbulent journey. Left me speechless!”

Inverse’s Hoai-Tran Bui called the film “a triumph,” adding: “Even more immense than the first, but much more intimate—Denis Villeneuve manages to streamline the more alienating second half of the book into a riveting, action-packed epic. TWO TOWERS-level mastery of battle sequences.  Zendaya  is the star.”

“Incredible filmmaking,” wrote Collider’s Steven Weintraub. “Brilliant score. Entire cast was excellent. My only complaint was I wish it was longer. Not joking around. The movie is 2hr and 40 min(?) and I would have been happy to watch another hour.”

“Having watched Dune Part Two , I can say I have ridden a sandworm,” CinemaBlend’s  Eric Eisenberg wrote . “It’s a magical experience, and the faithful adaptation fans have been waiting for (albeit w/ some smart changes). A fascinating examination of zealotry & postcolonial politics wrapped in a breathtaking blockbuster.”

Uproxx’s Mike Ryan wrote that he was mixed on the first Dune , but opined that Part Two is “phenomenal” and “up there with the greatest sci-fi movies I’ve ever seen.”

The first Dune film adaptation was helmed by visionary cult director David Lynch back in 1984. However, it performed poorly at the box office and was savaged by most critics, according to its wretched Rotten Tomatoes score of 37% .

The Syfy Channel later adapted Herbert’s 1965 novel into a better-received—if little-seen— 2000 TV mini-series. But the 2021 Dune roared back into theaters with a respectable 83% on the movie review aggregation site.

Not only is  Dune: Part Two  the best-reviewed  Dune  adaptation yet, but it’s also the highest-rated Rotten Tomatoes score for Villeneuve , who previously directed Blade Runner 2049, Sicario and Arrival.

Check out the film’s official third trailer above before Dune: Part Two hits theaters on March 1.

10 ‘Rotten’ Movies That Deserve to Be Fresh On Rotten Tomatoes

Just because a movie is labeled as "Rotten" on Rotten Tomatoes doesn't mean it's bad. These movies, in particular, deserve a rewatch and a Fresh score

The problem with Rotten Tomatoes as an aggregator for professional critics' opinions and audiences' reactions towards a movie is that it nullifies all nuance. No matter how many redeeming qualities it may have, a movie can only be "Fresh" or "Rotten." Without a middle ground, some good movies are unfairly deemed Rotten.

Thanks to Rotten Tomatoes' false dilemma, many movies were unfairly dismissed or even bashed by people who haven't seen them yet. Given how films are inherently subjective, no one is obligated to like a "Rotten" movie. That said, these particular movies' Rotten scores don't hold up under extra scrutiny or just one viewing.

10 2010s Movies With A 0% Rotten Tomatoes Rating

10 mamma mia is pure fun, rotten tomatoes tomatometer score: 55%.

It may be hard to remember, but Mamma Mia! was actually one of 2008's most polarizing movies. The ABBA jukebox musical got a mixed reception on Rotten Tomatoes because it supposedly lacked depth, and was too "campy" (read: happy) for its own good. In light of recent paradigm shifts, Mamma Mia's! sincerity was only appreciated later.

Mamma Mia! came out in a time when self-serious brooding was conflated with maturity and quality, while anything jovial was looked down on. Had Mamma Mia! opened today, it would be Fresh. Its decade-late sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, proved this with its Fresh scores, despite using what most consider to be ABBA's B-list songs.

9 Atlantis: The Lost Empire Pushed Disney's Animation to New Heights

Rotten tomatoes tomatometer score: 49%, atlantis: the lost empire.

A young linguist named Milo Thatch joins an intrepid group of explorers to find the mysterious lost continent of Atlantis.

10 Best Animated Romance Movies That Aren't Disney

In the 2000s, Walt Disney Pictures tried to move on from their musical formula with movies like Atlantis: The Lost Empire. This feature was an epic adventure and a tribute to pulp fiction, not a fairy tale romance. Sadly, Atlantis underperformed at the box office and got a Rotten score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Atlantis' lukewarm reception convinced Walt Disney Pictures to all but abandon traditionally animated movies and regress to family-friendly musicals. The movie amassed dedicated fans, who were only vindicated in light of Disney's recent lack of cinematic variety. More importantly, Atlantis was an animated feat that deserves more credit.

8 Boomerang Features One Of Eddie Murphy's Most Underrated Performances

Rotten tomatoes tomatometer score: 48%.

At the height of his stardom, Eddie Murphy was best known for his wild comedy roles. However, in 1992, he changed artistic direction with Boomerang. The rom-com stars a more subdued but nuanced and grounded Murphy, alongside an impressive cast of supporting players. Unfortunately, Boomerang was deemed Rotten.

Boomerang owed its lukewarm reception to critics and audiences who either dismissed Murphy's attempt to break out of his mold or didn't care for its positive depiction of Black people. Boomerang was only celebrated later by viewers who now respect Murphy's creative risk and what the movie achieved for onscreen representation.

7 Eternals Stepped Out Of The MCU's Comfort Zones

Rotten tomatoes tomatometer score: 42%.

The saga of the Eternals, a race of immortal beings who lived on Earth and shaped its history and civilizations.

Eternals lived up to the promise of Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) by being anything but a typical superhero movie. Unlike the MCU's other entries, this movie was a historical superhero epic about a nigh-immortal superfamily. Although its ambition was respected, Eternals was seen as "confounding" and deemed Rotten.

Eternals' direction was anything but conventional , which explains its divisive reaction. It's also difficult to ignore that its more scathing reviews were fueled by the burgeoning bad faith against the MCU and superheroes in general. As superhero movies get more generic, it's only now that Eternals' artistry gets the respect that it deserves.

6 Jennifer's Body Became More Poignant With Time

Jennifer's body.

A newly-possessed high-school cheerleader turns into a succubus who specializes in killing her male classmates. Can her best friend put an end to the horror?

10 Horror Movies That Would Have Ended Earlier If Their Heroes Were Smarter

In 2009, Jennifer's Body was made in part to capitalize on Megan Fox's stardom, but it backfired. Critics and audiences dismissed Fox's attempt to branch out as a brainless movie that had nothing to offer beyond her looks. Jennifer's Body was deemed Rotten, with most negative reactions citing Fox's performance as the movie's downfall.

It's hard not to see this negativity as another symptom of the online hate that Fox received in the late 2000s. Because it was so quickly dismissed at the time, viewers only realized that Jennifer's Body was a campy and satirical cult hit years later. Now, it's seen as a defiant and gory feminist screed that's anything but a Rotten movie.

5 Speed Racer Literally Brings Anime to Life

Speed racer.

Young driver, Speed Racer, aspires to be champion of the racing world with the help of his family and his high-tech Mach 5 automobile.

Today, Speed Racer is seen as the gold standard for live-action adaptations of anime or anything that was originally animated. The Wachowski Siblings' adaptation of the classic anime is now praised for being the most successful translation of animation to live-action. But in 2008, the movie was dismissed for being "headache-inducing."

Upon its release, Speed Racer's embrace of anime's inherent artifice and creativity wasn't well-received by critics and audiences. It was only after years of dour "realistic" movies that critics and viewers understood and appreciated what the movie was going for. Speed Racer is a work of art that's anything but a Rotten movie.

4 Saw VI Was Saw At Its Bloodiest & Most Topical

Rotten tomatoes tomatometer score: 39%.

Even if it was one of the few slasher franchises to have a solid continuity and themes, Saw was dismissed as "torture porn" for most of its existence. Saw VI arguably got the worst of this moralizing backlash, since its critical and financial failure all but killed the franchise's momentum.

Saw VI boasted some of Saw's best traps and twists. It was also one of the few Saw entries that tackled a topical issue, namely predatory healthcare providers. Saw VI deserves a more positive Rotten Tomatoes score, especially since Saw X, which was made by some of Saw VI's cast and crew , basically remade the film and was considered Fresh.

3 Silent Hill Broke the Video Game Curse

Rotten tomatoes tomatometer score: 33%.

Video game movies have been ridiculed for so long that many still think the subgenre is cursed to mediocrity. On the contrary, Silent Hill broke the curse almost 20 years ago. Even when compared to today's video game films and shows, Silent Hill stands above them all in terms of its story, and the sheer passion and artistry on display.

Silent Hill worked as a loose reinterpretation of the games and as a stand-alone horror movie. However, it was dismissed as yet another "inane" video game movie by Rotten Tomatoes at the time of its release. Despite its terrible sequel, Silent Hill endured for years and is still considered by its fans as the video game movie to beat.

2 Showgirls' Satire & Camp Were Only Appreciated Decades Later

Rotten tomatoes tomatometer score: 22%, 10 best satirical films.

For the longest time, Showgirls was a go-to punchline for "serious" cinephiles. Rotten Tomatoes' consensus summarized the NC-17 movie as "Vile, contemptible, garish, and misogynistic." However, in hindsight, it's not hard to see the attacks on Showgirls as biased and self-righteous.

Showgirls refuses to be subtle as it mocks the American Dream and patriarchal norms, and it was pilloried for doing so. Time has been kind to Showgirls and lead actor Elizabeth Berkley. It's now celebrated as a camp classic and a daring satire. Showgirls found its audience decades later, and they'd give it more than a Rotten label.

1 Freddy Got Fingered Was Ahead Of Its Time

Rotten tomatoes tomatometer score: 10%.

Even by the loose standards of the extreme comedies made between the 90s and 2000s , Freddy Got Fingered crossed too many lines. Tom Green's big solo movie deliberately pushed buttons and was purposefully farcical. The chaotic movie was deemed one of the worst ever made in 2001, but now it's seen as something of a Dadaist masterpiece.

In the years after Freddy Got Fingered was mocked and savaged, its brand of absurdist and borderline nonsensical humor became the dominant form of comedy. Not only would the movie fit well in Adult Swim's line-up, but it would've been a bigger hit among audiences and Rotten Tomatoes' verified critics if it were released today.

Sky TV and NOW users bag epic movie with 93% on Rotten Tomatoes next month

The multi-award winning Christopher Nolan film is finally coming to a streaming service

Unless you were living under a rock last year, you'll know all about Oppenheimer . No, not the scientist, but the biopic which tells the story of his most notable work – the first nuclear weapons.

Released in cinemas during the same period as Barbie , the two films became unlikely best friends. The resulting Barbenheimer double bill propelled both to critical acclaim and box office greatness.

The movie has been a sensation at the award shows, too. Seven Academy Awards. Seven BAFTAs. Five Golden Globes. It's safe to say, Christopher Nolan's house must have a mighty large mantlepiece.

Unless you got to see it in the cinema, though, you'll have had a hard time checking it out. That's because Oppenheimer hasn't appeared on any of the best streaming services – until now.

Or, at least, until the 12th of April. From that date, user of Sky TV and NOW will be able to stream the blockbuster movie.

That's a massive coup for them. They also snagged Barbie recently, with that coming to the service in just a few weeks time. They also caught one of my favourite movies of last year – Ferrari . It certainly feels like NOW is the place to be if you're a movie buff.

In order to watch it, you'll need either a NOW Cinema pass or a Sky Cinema subscription. Both of those are rather affordable options – NOW Cinema starts from just £6.99 a month right now, while you can get Sky Cinema for just £10 a month.

That's an incredibly low price for the collection of viewing material on offer. In fact, I think I paid more than that for my cinema ticket. You're getting a whole host of top titles for a superb low fee.

What's more, with both of the movies hitting the platform this month, you'll finally be able to do the Barbenheimer sequence from home. That's a welcome addition for all of us.

Oh, and if you're reading this in the land of the free, don't fear – you can find it on Peacock Premium in the USA.

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All the best features, news, tips and great deals to help you live a better life through technology

Online news writer at T3.com, Sam has five years of experience in online and print journalism, with work featured in publications like Metro and Last Word on Sports. After years writing about music and football, Sam now turns his hand to bringing you news about new phones, smart home products, smart watches, laptops and TVs. Sam is a longtime fan and user of Apple products, including iPhones, MacBooks and Apple Watches.He’s also T3’s resident football expert, bringing you everything you need to know about the big games, including how to watch them. In his spare time, Sam is a keen guitarist, watch lover and (very) amateur golfer. 

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Netflix’s 94% New Serial Killer Show Continues An Epic 18-Movie & TV Rotten Tomatoes Run For Sherlock Star

• Andrew Scott's impressive 18-title hot streak on Rotten Tomatoes has solidified his reputation as a versatile and talented actor.
• Ripley, featuring Scott as the antihero, has garnered rave reviews for his complex and spellbinding performance, elevating the series.
• Despite one misfire in 2015, Scott's career has been defined by critical success, with Ripley further solidifying his standing in the industry.

The rave reviews received by Ripley prove that series star Andrew Scott truly can do no wrong in the eyes of Rotten Tomatoes critics, continuing a great 18-movie and TV show streak for the actor. Created by acclaimed screenwriter Steven Zaillian, Ripley is the latest screen re-imagining of Patricia Highsmith’s iconic con man, Tom Ripley. Even though The Talented Mr. Ripley was adapted into a critically acclaimed movie in 1998, the same novel provides the source material for Netflix’s upcoming miniseries. Ripley promises a stylish black-and-white thriller that centers on the perspective of Highsmith’s charming killer, and its early reviews suggest that the series is one of 2024’s best new shows.

While Ripley ’s entire cast has impressive resumes, the show’s eponymous antihero is played by a star who has a unique knack for choosing all the right roles. Irish actor Andrew Scott, best known for his roles in Sherlock and Fleabag , plays the role of Ripley in the upcoming series. While Sherlock brought Scott to mainstream prominence, the actor’s career began back when he was only 17 in 1995. Scott appeared in a string of successful indie movies and Irish productions throughout the next decade, but it is in the last decade that he has become a household name thanks to some great choices.

Ripley's 94% Is Andrew Scott's 18th Positive Rotten Tomatoes Score In A Row

Andrew scott’s recent career history boasts a frankly staggering critical consensus.

Thanks to Ripely, Andrew Scott has now had 18 positive scores in a row on Rotten Tomatoes . This is a fairly astounding achievement as it means the star hasn’t chosen a single project that viewers and critics roundly rejected in almost a decade. Among Scott’s impressive string of roles are All of Us Strangers , 1917 , Handsome Devil , Black Mirror , and His Dark Materials . Scott has starred in plenty of mainstream successes as well as art house hits, with Ripley bringing back his Sherlock villainy for the first time since the BBC mystery series ended in 2017.

Scott’s movie and TV roles have varied, with the actor appearing in period dramedies like The Pursuit of Love as well as genre fare like A Dark Place . While there isn’t a specific thematic through line that connects all of Scott’s projects , this has allowed the actor to play a greater range of roles and display more of the versatility that has become synonymous with his name. Even before 2015’s Victor Frankenstein briefly damaged his critical standing, Scott had already excelled in critically acclaimed movies that aren’t included in his 18-title streak, such as Locke and the superb British drama Pride .

Victor Frankenstein Is Andrew Scott's Only "Rotten" Movie Or TV Show On Rotten Tomatoes

Scott’s role in one 2015 misfire could be blamed on a weak script.

While Scott’s hot streak is astounding, one title did throw his average in 2015. His supporting role as Inspector Turpin in Victor Frankenstein was a critical misfire, with reviewers complaining that the project lacked tonal cohesion and a fresh perspective. Victor Frankenstein ’s reviews blamed a flawed script for the movie’s failure , with the retelling failing to revive Mary Shelley’s iconic novel for a new generation. A box office flop, Victor Frankenstein ’s failure was a significantly bigger issue for stars James MacAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe than Scott. However, it did negatively impact his critical standing due to its poor reception.

Before Victor Frankenstein arrived, Scott’s last three movies had enjoyed solid ratings from audiences and critics on Rotten Tomatoes. As such, the star might have accrued a 21 title hot streak if it weren't for the 2015 flop. That said, Ripley is currently outdoing Saltburn with critics despite director Emerald Fennel’s viral 2023 hit earning endless comparisons to The Talented Mr. Ripley . As such, it is fair to guess that Scott’s critical standing will be alright despite this minor wobble nine years ago. Almost all of his roles have landed with critics, despite how varied his taste in projects has been.

Why Ripley's Rotten Tomatoes Score Is So High

Scott’s moody crime thriller is another exemplary highsmith adaptation.

Ripley ’s positive reviews single Scott's performance out for praise, which won’t come as a shock to fans of Highsmith’s character. Ripley’s story hinges on the actor playing him , since the sociopath could come across as an amoral monster in the wrong hands. However, The Hollywood Reporter credits " Scott’s complex central performance ” with the adaptation's success, while The Guardian found his work to be “ Spellbinding .” Meanwhile, the BBC praised the changes that the series makes to its novel inspiration, saying that the show plays out like a Hitchcockian thriller.

Critics also praised both Dakota Fanning’s Marge Sherwood and Johnny Flynn’s Dickie Greenleaf, commending the pair for escaping the sizable shadows cast by Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law’s respective takes on the characters. Aesthetically, the shift to black-and-white cinematography and the longer runtime both allow this adaptation to feel like its own beast, which numerous critics noted was a necessity. Since the late, great director Anthony Minghella’s movie remains an acclaimed hit, Ripley needed to give Andrew Scott’s take on the character a fresh look and feel.

Cast Pasquale Esposito, Maurizio Lombardi, Johnny Flynn, Dakota Fanning, Andrew Scott

Release Date April 4, 2024

Genres Drama, Thriller, Crime

Streaming Service(s) Netflix

Directors Steven Zaillian

Main Genre Crime

Rating TV-MA

Screen Rant

Ewan mcgregor's new series with 90% rotten tomatoes score dominates streaming popularity charts.

A new streaming popularity chart features Ewan McGregor’s new Showtime series, which has a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, near the top of the list.

• A Gentleman in Moscow starring Ewan McGregor is the second most popular streaming title in the US for the week of March 28 – April 3.
• The series features McGregor as Alexander Rostov, a Russian aristocrat who is sentenced to life under house arrest during the final days of the Russian Revolution.
• The Showtime limited series has been generally well-received by both critics and audiences.

A Gentleman in Moscow , a new series starring Ewan McGregor, is currently dominating streaming popularity charts. Premiering on Showtime at the end of March, McGregor leads the A Gentleman in Moscow cast as Alexander Rostov, a Russian aristocrat who is sentenced to live out the rest of his days under house arrest at a Moscow hotel following the October Revolution. The 8-episode limited series, which also stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead, currently sports a strong 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.

New streaming data from Reelgood for the week of March 28 – April 3 features A Gentleman in Moscow as the second most popular title of the week overall in the U.S., falling just behind Netflix's 3 Body Problem . Check out the full chart below:

Reelgood gathers its data by monitoring over 20 million viewing decisions across every major streaming platform, though it's not clear how many actual views A Gentleman in Moscow was able to rack up. In any case, the series beats the likes of Quiet on Set , Road House , Shōgun , Anatomy of a Fall , Poor Things , and more.

How A Gentleman In Moscow Has Been Received

Critics tend to enjoy the ewan mcgregor show more than audiences.

The 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes suggests the limited series has gotten off to a great start with critics. Reviews, for the most part, praise McGregor's captivating lead performance, in addition to highlighting the charming storytelling and filmmaking used to capture the real Russian history depicted in A Gentleman in Moscow . The series' audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, however, is a little lower at 76%, though this is still a perfectly respectable figure.

A Gentleman in Moscow is based on a 2016 novel of the same name by Armor Towles.

On Metacritic, A Gentleman in Moscow has scored 74 out of 100 from 21 critic reviews, suggesting again a favorable reception. The user score on this site is decidedly more mixed at only 5.4 out of 10, however. The series' score on IMDb, another user-driven platform is higher, however, at 6.6 out of 10.

A Gentleman in Moscow episode 2 was released on April 5, meaning there's still 6 more episodes to come over the following weeks. It's possible that, over the course of these remaining episodes, as the story continues to unfold, the scores listed above will change as opinions evolve and new audiences share their thoughts. While not all of the user scores for A Gentleman in Moscow are glowing, the show has certainly been met with a generally positive reception so far, and it's evidently been a popular streaming choice.

Source: Reelgood

A Gentleman in Moscow

Based on the novel by Amor Towles, A Gentleman in Moscow is a historical dramatic-thriller created by Ben Vanstone for Paramount+ and Showtime. Following the advent of the Russian Revolution, Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov is forced to spend several decades locked away in a hotel room and watch as the country around him transforms.