Ice Cube’s ‘War of the Worlds’ Remake Lands a Brutal 0% on Rotten Tomatoes

In what’s shaping up to be one of the most critically panned releases of 2025, The War of the Worlds—a modern-day adaptation of H.G. Wells’ 1898 sci-fi classic starring Ice Cube and Eva Longoria—has earned an unprecedented 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Released on July 31 via Amazon Prime Video, the film attempts to reimagine the alien invasion saga for a contemporary audience. Ice Cube plays a top cybersecurity analyst at the Department of Homeland Security, who uncovers a world-ending threat. Despite the star power and the sci-fi pedigree, critics and viewers alike have delivered a near-universal thumbs-down.

This isn’t the first time The War of the Worlds has hit the screen. The first film adaptation in 1953 is still revered, boasting an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Steven Spielberg’s 2005 reboot starring Tom Cruise fared well, too, earning a solid 76%. But this latest version has failed to impress, even among diehard fans of Cube or the genre.

On social media, reactions have ranged from disappointed to downright scathing:

“That new War of the Worlds movie was hilariously awful,” one user posted on X (formerly Twitter), summing up the general sentiment.

“Wasn’t no budget and it’s quite possibly Cube’s worst acting performance,” added another.

Others described the film as a “90-minute ordeal that felt like six hours” and “so bad I want my money back—even though I streamed it.”

The backlash hasn’t stopped War of the Worlds from ranking in the Top 10 on Prime Video, suggesting morbid curiosity may be fueling the film’s early viewership.

Even Ice Cube’s son, actor and producer O’Shea Jackson Jr., chimed in on the criticism, offering a bit of behind-the-scenes context:

“Shot during the pandemic. Released 5 years later,” Jackson tweeted, responding to a viral post mocking the film.

While the pandemic-era production might explain some of the film’s creative challenges, it hasn’t softened the blow for audiences who expected more from a project attached to such prominent names.