Cliff Notes – Amazon Prime’s ‘absolutely awful’ sci-fi remake crashes out with 0% RT score
- Amazon Prime Video’s adaptation of War of the Worlds has received a 0% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, with audience approval at just 13%, indicating widespread discontent.
- Critics have labelled the film as a “silly and shoddy” production, with some suggesting it resembles a “feature-length commercial for Amazon.”
- Despite its poor reception, a few viewers defended the film, praising the performances of Ice Cube and Eva Longoria, highlighting differing opinions on its overall quality.
Amazon Prime’s ‘absolutely awful’ sci-fi remake crashes out with 0% RT score
War of the Worlds 2025 Prime Video adaptation has made the wrong impression (Picture: Universal Pictures/Prime Video)
Amazon Prime Video’s adaptation of War of the Worlds has been universally panned as fans declare ‘watching paint dry is more exciting’.
Based on the 1898 H.G. Wells sci-fi novel, the new remake has quickly climbed the Prime Video charts, landing at number three in the UK, but the reviews tell a very different story.
The synopsis reads: ‘A gargantuan invasion is coming with this fresh take on the legendary novel of the same name.
‘Renowned actress Eva Longoria is joined by iconic rapper and actor Ice Cube, along with Michael O’Neill and Iman Benson, for a thrilling out-of-this-world adventure that is filled with present-day themes of technology, surveillance, and privacy.’
Just a week after it landed on the streamer, however, it has secured a shockingly rare 0% Rotten Tomatoes critics score, with the audience score not far behind on 13%.
The Daily Telegraph called it a ‘silly and shoddy’ movie while Variety accused it of being a ‘feature-length commercial for all things Amazon’.
The new movie stars Ice Cube and Eva Longoria (Picture: Universal Pictures/Prime Video)
The main thrust of the movie appears to feature Ice Cube sitting at a computer screen, which doesn’t make for particularly scintillating viewing, despite an alien threat brewing in the background.
It is a feeling echoed by fans across the board.
‘I am traumatised. Not because of how graphic it is, but how awful it is. It feels like a 10 year old had a fever dream and decided to write the story at the top of their head,’ ExxtraZY wrote on RT.
‘The butchered one of the greatest sci-fi stories mankind has ever told. Just horrible. Bad writing,’ Maxwell J agreed.
This movie could either be considered a glorified Amazon Ad or a really, really, really bad movie,’ William I criticised.
The sci-fi remake has been accused of being a ‘glorified Amazon ad’ (Picture: Universal Pictures/Prime Video)
‘Stayed 20 minutes longer than I should have because of Ice Cube. But even he couldn’t save this disaster of an adaptation,’ Lesley J reflected.
Over on X, Graham Mansfield wrote: ‘This new War of the Worlds movie might be the worst movie I have seen in years.’
‘The new War Of The Worlds movie was so bad, I had to watch it completely,’ Alexander Spielvogel echoed.
It wasn’t all bad, with some coming to the defence of the movie.
‘Ok so I am gonna buck the system here. I truly enjoyed WAR OF THE WORLDS. I thought Ice Cube was great – loved the entire cast. Eva Longoria – great. Loved the kids. What is the problem here??’ Susan E questioned.
There was another adaptation in 2005 starring Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning (Picture: Frank Masi, SMPSP)
‘I felt the story was strong enough to suspend belief. I didn’t care too much about the special effects, I cared about are the kids going to be OK and how this story is different from the many other renditions I have seen,’ Hal H echoed.
War of the Worlds has been adapted before in various formats, including the 2005 movie starring Tom Cruise, which has a 76% critics score (although it trails behind at 42% with audiences).
Of course, there is also the musical album adaptation from Jeff Wayne in rock opera style.
War Of The Worlds is streaming on Amazon Prime Video now.
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