Ice Cube’s War of the Worlds scores 0 percent on Rotten Tomatoes

Ice Cube’s modern take on War of the Worlds receives 0% Rotten Tomatoes score.

Ice Cube’s latest film War of the Worlds, a modern reimagining of H.G. Wells' 1898 sci-fi classic, has been widely panned by critics and audiences alike. Released on Amazon Prime Video on July 30, the Rich Lee-directed feature holds a rare 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 3.2/10 score on IMDb from over 8,000 users.

The film attempts to modernize Wells’ alien invasion tale by incorporating themes of digital surveillance, online communication, and privacy. However, critics argue that the execution has fallen flat. One outlet labeled it “a disaster,” calling the film “a feature-length commercial for all things Amazon.” Another review described it as a “screenlife” thriller told entirely through digital screens, concluding that it “fails not only as entertainment but even as a coherent film.” The inclusion of excessive product placement — such as an Amazon product page for a flash drive — has only intensified backlash.

On social media, viewers echoed critics’ sentiments, calling the film “unwatchable” and “possibly the worst film in years.” Some mocked the tagline, “It’s worse than you think,” saying it accurately summarizes the experience. One IMDb reviewer wrote: “This movie is a complete waste of cinematic resources,” while another commented: “Some of the worst acting across the board. The best actors in the film were the aliens.”

Compared to previous War of the Worlds adaptations — including the 1953 version (89% RT) and Steven Spielberg’s 2005 film (76% RT) — the 2025 installment has fallen drastically short. Ice Cube stars as Will Radford alongside Eva Longoria, Iman Benson, and Clark Gregg. The screenplay is by Kenneth A. Golde and Marc Hyman.