War of the Worlds Movie Review 2025: Is it the worst film of the year?

Are you looking for your next movie night pick? Well, you might want to steer clear of “War of the Worlds.” This sci-fi flick, starring Ice Cube, has been causing quite a stir since its release on Amazon’s Prime Video on July 25.

Despite its grand title, A-list star, and backing by a major studio, this adaptation of H.G. Wells’ classic book has ended up being a major disappointment for many. In fact, Rotten Tomatoes has given it a dismal 3% rating on the “Tomatometer” and just 21% on the “Popcornmeter.”

In the film, Ice Cube plays a Homeland Security expert who spends the entire time at his desk, using government technology to watch over his children during an alien invasion. The movie also features Eva Longoria, Michael O’Neill, Olivia DeLaurentis, and Clark Gregg, with direction from Rich Lee.

While one critic from Entertainment Weekly found it entertaining in its stupidity, many others have slammed it as the worst adaptation of Wells’ novel they’ve ever seen. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes have described it as a braindead exercise in surveillance state propaganda, and viewers have echoed this, panning the film for its lackluster storytelling and heavy-handed messaging.

Despite its poor reviews, “War of the Worlds” has found a home as a meme-generator online, with viewers poking fun at everything from the acting to the product placements for Amazon products within the movie. Some have even called it a 90-minute advertisement for Amazon services.

So, if you’re in the mood for a sci-fi flick that misses the mark, “War of the Worlds” might just be the movie for you. But if you’re looking for a cinematic masterpiece, you may want to look elsewhere.