Amazon’s War of the Worlds (2025) Bombs with 0% Rotten Tomatoes Score — Viewers Call It “Absolutely Awful”

Another reboot, another crash landing. Amazon Prime Video’s new take on War of the Worlds (2025) has officially tanked, earning a 0% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes — something rarely seen, even in the streaming era.

Despite a flashy cast and a name that carries sci-fi weight, this one missed the mark in almost every way. According to critics, the film is “soulless,” “confused,” and “more like a tech commercial than a thriller.”

So what exactly went wrong?

A Sci-Fi Remake With No Soul

Directed by Michael Offer, War of the Worlds (2025) was supposed to modernize the classic alien invasion story. Instead, what viewers got was a cold, shallow version that skips tension, skips emotion, and feels like it was written by an algorithm.

Starring Eva Longoria, Ice Cube, and rising star Sophie Wilde, the film centers on a small group of survivors navigating life after a global alien attack. But critics say the story is paper-thin, weighed down by clunky dialogue, product placement, and no sense of urgency or fear.

“It feels like a glorified Amazon Alexa ad stretched into a feature film,” one reviewer wrote.

It’s especially frustrating given the legacy. H.G. Wells’ novel terrified readers in the 19th century. Orson Welles’ infamous 1938 radio broadcast sent real panic across America. Spielberg’s 2005 version brought full-scale dread to the suburbs. This version? Feels like background noise.

The Audience Didn’t Hold Back

Though Amazon didn’t screen the film early for critics (never a good sign), viewers jumped in fast once it premiered. And it didn’t take long before X/Twitter lit up with reactions.

“I gave it 20 minutes. Not one alien. Not one ounce of tension.”
“How do you spend that much on a sci-fi movie and forget to write a plot?”
“It’s like they used ChatGPT to make a trailer and then forgot to make a movie.”

Rotten Tomatoes confirmed the 0% critic score, and the audience rating isn’t faring much better, currently sitting in the low 20s. The disconnect between the cast and the content is obvious — and fans aren’t cutting it any slack.

When Branding Kills the Story

One of the biggest criticisms? The tone.

Instead of leaning into survival, tension, or post-apocalyptic dread, the film shifts between action-lite sequences and long monologues about humanity that don’t land. One sequence, set during a yoga class in a “safe zone,” became a meme within hours.

“The aliens invaded, but first… downward dog.”

Critics are pointing out how product placement actively hurts the atmosphere. From tech brands to home gadgets, Amazon’s fingerprints are all over the film — and it’s hard to escape the feeling that it’s more about corporate synergy than storytelling.

This trend isn’t new, but War of the Worlds (2025) takes it to a new level — to the point where the message feels less “we’re doomed” and more “don’t forget to reorder batteries with Prime.”

📉A Big Miss for Prime Video’s August Lineup

This flop stings especially hard considering Amazon’s massive August 2025 release slate, which includes over 56 new movies and 13 TV shows.

According to TechRadar, highlights this month include:

• The Pickup, starring Eddie Murphy, Keke Palmer, and Pete Davidson

• The Map That Leads to You, a romantic drama with a supernatural twist

• The Summer I Turned Pretty: Season 3, already trending on social media

• Butterfly, a thriller with early buzz

With so much competition for viewers’ attention, the failure of War of the Worlds feels more pronounced. This isn’t just a bad movie — it’s a missed opportunity in the middle of a crucial content push.

What It Means for Streaming Originals

Let’s be real — not every original film needs to be a masterpiece. But audiences are getting smarter, and streaming platforms are being held to higher standards.

War of the Worlds (2025) shows what happens when IP is used as a shortcut, rather than a foundation. The film may trend for a few days due to the low score, but it won’t have legs — and it won’t build trust in Amazon’s movie slate.

Compare this to something like Fantastic Four (2025) — which, while flawed, actually tried to build characters, tone, and stakes. (You can read my full review of that here.)

📍 War of the Worlds (2025) is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video UK
🎟️ Wanna watch it (and tons more) for free? Start a 30-day trial with Amazon Prime Video here — and decide for yourself if the movie’s really that bad.

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