Netflix’s ‘Zero Day’ flops with critics despite Robert De Niro’s star power

Netflix’s ‘Zero Day’ debuts with 45% on Rotten Tomatoes, disappointing critics despite its star-studded cast.

Netflix’s highly anticipated political thriller Zero Day has failed to impress critics, debuting with a 45% score on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Despite Robert De Niro’s rare TV appearance as former U.S. President George Mullen, many reviewers found the six-episode series predictable and lacking in suspense.

Critics have called Zero Day a missed opportunity. M.N. Miller of FandomWire described it as "contrived and rushed," while Alex Maidy from JoBlo’s Movie Network lamented that it "wastes an all-star cast with a story bogged down by misdirections." The series follows Mullen as he investigates a deadly cyberattack but gets entangled in political conspiracies and his own troubled past.

The ensemble cast includes Lizzie Caplan, Jesse Plemons, Joan Allen, Connie Britton, Dan Stevens, Angela Bassett, and Matthew Modine. However, The Daily Beast’s Nick Schager wrote that even this impressive lineup couldn’t save the show from being a "muddled, suspense-challenged washout."

Not all reviews are negative. MovieWeb’s Matt Mahler suggested that the show improves after its "horrible first episode." Collider’s Shawn Van Horn praised its short six-episode format, saying it remains thrilling without dragging.

Fans are divided, with some praising the acting and others calling it "one of the silliest things on Netflix." Zero Day is now streaming, allowing viewers to judge for themselves.