10 Times Celebs Responded to Criticism of Their Movies

10 Times Celebs Responded to Criticism of Their Movies

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most notable instances when actors publicly clapped back at negative reviews of their films.

Maisie Williams
“The New Mutants” (2020)

The superhero horror “The New Mutants,” featuring such stars as Maisie Williams and Anya Taylor-Joy, was filmed in 2017 and initially set for an April 2018 release. However, due to factors like the Disney-Fox merger and the COVID-19 pandemic, the film’s release date was pushed back repeatedly. When it finally landed in August 2020, not many critics were pleased with the results. In particular, one review by Forbes called it “the worst X-Men movie ever”. Rather than taking offense, Williams turned it into a marketing opportunity. She tweeted in response, “Sounds like a must see! Get your tickets now”. Unfortunately, her witty comeback wasn’t enough to save the film financially, as it only grossed a fraction of its production budget.

Amy Schumer
“Trainwreck” (2015)

If you’re going to critique a film, you should probably wait to see it in its entirety before sharing your review. In the case of 2015’s “Trainwreck,” however, one critic strayed from this approach. Upon the release of the film’s trailer, Jeffrey Wells of Hollywood Elsewhere seemed to focus on star and writer Amy Schumer, making inappropriate comments about her appearance. In response, Schumer tweeted that she loved her size and had no intention of changing it. She reinforced this message by posting hilarious pictures on Instagram that depicted caricatures of conventional beauty standards. These responses prompted a half-hearted apology from Wells, acknowledging Schumer as a “first-class talent” who “deserves more respect than what I gave her”.

Rob Schneider
“Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo” (2005)

To say that 2005’s “Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo” was hated by pundits would be an understatement. Even legendary critic Roger Ebert awarded the film an astounding “zero star” rating. But apparently, the review that irked star and co-writer Rob Schneider came from LA Times’ critic Patrick Goldstein. Goldstein quipped that the film was overlooked by the Oscars because there wasn’t a category for most vulgar joke “...Delivered by a Third-Rate Comic”. Schneider didn’t take this comment lightly. He bought full-page ads in Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, retorting that Goldstein hadn’t won a Pulitzer since there wasn’t a category for “Third-Rate, Unfunny Pompous Reporter”. Ironically, Roger Ebert, a Pulitzer winner, later weighed in on the feud, asserting that the movie sucked.

Jamie Dornan
“Fifty Shades of Grey” (2015)

Despite being a phenomenal box office success, the first entry in the “Fifty Shades of Grey” was panned by critics. Many of the negative reviews focused on the performances of the film’s lead actors Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan. One, in particular, singled out Dornan, describing him as having “the charisma of oatmeal”. In a 2020 interview with Variety, Dornan mentioned that he usually avoids reading reviews of his movies, but admitted to checking out some for the “Fifty Shades” film. He then brought up the oatmeal remark, saying “Some people like oatmeal, so I thought it was kind of harsh.” Despite this, Dornan was able to poke fun at the critique, maintaining that he didn’t entirely disagree with it.

Amandla Stenberg
“Bodies Bodies Bodies” (2022)

The 2022 film “Bodies Bodies Bodies” was generally praised as a sharp social commentary from the digital age. However, Lena Wilson, a critic from The New York Times offered a lukewarm take, labeling it “a 95-minute advertisement for cleavage”. In response, one of the film’s stars, Amandla Stenberg, messaged Wilson on Instagram, saying “Maybe if you had gotten your eyes off my [breasts] you would’ve watched the movie!”. Wilson, who identifies as lesbian, tweeted the message, apparently perceiving it as homophobic. Stenberg clarified that her comment was meant in jest and highlighted the unnecessary sexualization she had faced in the past. This exchange sparked a heated online debate, with opinions split between Stenberg’s and Wilson’s perspectives.

Ben Platt
“Dear Evan Hansen” (2021)

In 2017, Ben Platt won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in “Dear Evan Hansen”. Four years later, he reprised his role in the film adaptation. However, at 27, he was noticeably too old to play a 17-year-old high school student. Fans quickly noticed this age disparity in the trailer and also raised nepotism concerns, seeing as Platt’s father, Marc, co-produced the movie. The actor took an exception to these claims, calling his critics “jerks.” This response backfired, leading to further criticism directed at Platt. Ultimately, “Dear Evan Hansen” was met with negative critical reception and didn’t receive much love at the box office either.

Daniel Kaluuya
“Nope” (2022)

Jordan Peele’s third directorial effort “Nope” garnered largely positive reviews for various aspects of its filmmaking. But controversial internet personality Logan Paul clearly wasn’t impressed by it. Paul tweeted a thread critiquing the film that quickly went viral. Among other things, he called the movie “objectively slow” and described the character played by actor Daniel Kaluuya as “possibly the most mundane, vanilla character”. When asked about the viral thread, Kaluuya brushed off Paul’s criticism, questioning why his opinion should matter above everyone else’s. Kaluuya also alluded to Paul’s inexperience in the film industry, comparing it to him giving a music critique. Regardless, “Nope” seemed to have connected with a wide audience, grossing over $170 million worldwide.

Melissa McCarthy
“Identity Thief” (2013)

With a mere 19% Rotten Tomatoes rating, the 2013 buddy comedy “Identity Thief” apparently failed to deliver on many levels. However, while most critics focused on the quality of the material, New York Observer writer Rex Reed took a mean-spirited route. Reed attacked Melissa McCarthy’s physical appearance, describing her with several demeaning words. His review sparked outrage among many in the film industry, but McCarthy herself decided to respond with kindness. She described Reed as someone “swimming in so much hate” that it made her feel bad for him. McCarthy remained unfazed about his opinion, stating that she was “in such a happy spot” in her life. Frankly, we couldn’t be more glad for her.

Carey Mulligan
“Promising Young Woman” (2020)

“Promising Young Woman” stars Carey Mulligan as Cassie, a trauma survivor who embarks on an epic revenge scheme. Following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2020, it was reviewed by freelance critic Dennis Harvey for Variety. While Harvey largely praised Mulligan’s performance, he suggested that producer Margot Robbie might’ve been a better fit. Mulligan called out this comment in an interview with the New York Times, stating that it implied she wasn’t “hot enough” for the part. Consequently, Variety added an Editor’s Note at the top of the original article, apologizing to Mulligan for the insensitive remarks. Nonetheless, Harvey defended his comments, maintaining that he never intended them as a slight to Mulligan’s appearance.

Samuel L. Jackson
“The Avengers” (2012)

As Nick Fury, Samuel L. Jackson has gone up against many villains. But after the release of the first “Avengers” film in 2012, he faced his most unexpected adversary: a movie critic. Jackson took issue with a review by New York Times journalist A. O. Scott, who described the blockbuster as having a “grinding, hectic emptiness” that even humor couldn’t salvage. The actor tweeted that Scott needed a new job and urged fans to “help him find one!” Surprisingly, Scott received an outpouring of support online, with many defending his right to voice his opinion. Despite this, Scott’s mixed review was drowned out by the overwhelming praise for the film, and its eventual $1.5 billion gross.

Do you know any other celebs who fired back at their critics? Let us know in the comments!