Ice Cube’s War of the Worlds 2025 Makes History as Prime Video’s First 0% Rotten Tomatoes Disaster

The collective groan of movie critics and audiences worldwide has reached deafening levels as Prime Video’s new “War of the Worlds” adaptation achieves what few films dare to imagine: a pristine 0% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. Starring Ice Cube and released this month, this sci-fi reboot has united viewers in unprecedented disappointment, with one Rotten Tomatoes reviewer calling it “a career low for everyone involved” and Letterboxd users describing it as a “screenlife fever dream written by a Doomsday Preppers contestant.”

Why Did War of the Worlds 2025 Become Prime Video’s Biggest Critical Failure?

The film’s catastrophic reception stems from multiple fatal flaws according to reviews aggregated on Rotten Tomatoes (July 2024). Critics highlight:

• Relentless product placement: Amazon delivery vans, drones, and gift cards feature so prominently that The Verge notes “the branding overshadows the aliens.”
• Baffling production choices: Over 60% of Ice Cube’s screen time shows him reacting to disaster footage on computer monitors, creating what IndieWire calls “a Zoom meeting masquerading as cinema.”
• Dated visual effects: Reviewers universally panned the “early-2000s Syfy Channel quality” CGI despite the film’s $65 million budget (The Hollywood Reporter).

Audiences haven’t been kinder, awarding a dismal 17% score. Social media reactions are brutal: “Were the actors paid in free Prime memberships?” asked one Twitter user, while another lamented, “You need an IQ below potato to not laugh at every scene.”

How Does This Compare to Previous War of the Worlds Adaptations?

Unlike Steven Spielberg’s 2005 version (75% Tomatometer) or the 1953 classic (90%), this iteration ignores character development and suspense. Instead, it delivers what Polygon describes as “a psychotic montage of Amazon ads occasionally interrupted by aliens.” Industry analysts note troubling patterns:

• The film reused scripts from unproduced pandemic-era projects
• Principal photography wrapped in just 23 days
• Test audiences scored it below 40% six months ago (Variety)

Clark Gregg and Eva Longoria’s performances couldn’t salvage the project. As critic Robert Daniels tweeted: “When the star of ‘Sharknado’ seems nuanced by comparison, you’ve created a new tier of bad.”

What Are Viewers Saying About the Film?

The backlash extends beyond professional critics:

“Nothing makes sense… I’d rather watch my Ring doorbell footage for 2 hours.”
— Rotten Tomatoes audience review

“It’s worse than the tagline (‘Worse Than You Think’) promises. A historic achievement in terrible filmmaking.”
— Letterboxd user

“Proof that algorithms shouldn’t greenlight movies. This feels AI-generated by someone who hates humans.”
— Reddit discussion thread

In an entertainment landscape crowded with forgettable content, Prime Video’s War of the Worlds 2025 has accomplished the unthinkable: uniting critics and audiences in unanimous disdain. With its historic 0% Rotten Tomatoes score and cringe-inducing corporate pandering, Ice Cube’s sci-fi misfire sets a new benchmark for disastrous adaptations. For those still tempted to watch, consider this critic consensus: Your time is better spent rewatching the 1953 original – or even Sharknado.

Must Know

Q: What’s the Rotten Tomatoes score for War of the Worlds 2025?
A: The film holds a 0% critics’ score and 17% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes as of July 2024. This makes it the worst-reviewed major studio release of the past five years according to Metacritic data.

Q: Who stars in the new War of the Worlds movie?
A: Ice Cube headlines alongside Eva Longoria and Clark Gregg. Despite their credentials, critics note all deliver “shockingly disengaged performances” (The Wrap).

Q: Why are audiences criticizing the film’s Amazon references?
A: Excessive product placement includes Amazon delivery drivers becoming key plot points, Alexa-style AI assisting characters, and lingering shots of Prime packaging – all while alien invasions unfold (Forbes).

Q: Where can I watch War of the Worlds 2025?
A: It’s exclusively streaming on Prime Video. Ironically, many reviewers suggest using that time to rewatch superior sci-fi like The Expanse or Invasion instead.

Q: How does this compare to other War of the Worlds adaptations?
A: Unlike Spielberg’s 2005 version (75% Tomatometer) or the 1953 classic (90%), this iteration holds the franchise’s lowest scores by significant margins according to Rotten Tomatoes historical data.

Q: Has any major film recovered from a 0% Rotten Tomatoes score?
A: Only 21 films in history have maintained 0% scores with 20+ reviews. Most become cult curiosities (Disaster Movie, Jaws: The Revenge), but none regained critical favor according to Rotten Tomatoes archives.