Jennifer Lawrence’s 2016 sci-fi romance still divides opinion online
Mixed reviews persist for Jennifer Lawrence's 2016 film 'Passengers'
Seven years after its release, Jennifer Lawrence’s poorly-rated sci-fi romance still attracts online reviews. Some actors might believe that producing numerous films will overshadow their lesser works. Sadly for Lawrence, this theory doesn’t hold true.
The film, written by Jon Spaihts (known for co-writing Dune) and directed by Morten Tyldum (The Imitation Game), features Chris Pratt, Michael Sheen (Good Omens), and Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix) alongside Lawrence. The story revolves around a sleeper ship taking hibernating humans from a ruined Earth to a distant planet 120 years away. Thirty years into the journey, an asteroid damages the ship, waking a lone mechanical engineer who faces a moral dilemma about his solitary wakefulness.
Released in 2016, “Passengers” didn’t impress critics despite its star-studded cast. It grossed $303.1 million globally on a $110-150 million budget, as reported by Box Office Mojo. The film received nominations for Best Original Score and Best Production Design at the 89th Academy Awards. However, critics on Rotten Tomatoes rated it poorly at 30 percent, while the audience score was a more favourable 63 percent.
Fast forward to 2024, new audiences on Letterboxd shared mixed reviews, giving the film an average rating of 2.8 out of five. One viewer rated it two-and-a-half stars, noting, “Fun plot and premise but just doesn’t hit home for some reason even though it had two actors in their prime. Nevertheless, for some reason this movie falls into my ‘I know it’s not good but I want to keep watching it’ bucket.”
Another user, who gave it two stars, commented, “Zzzzz kinda bored.” A third reviewer rated it one-and-a-half stars, saying, “Ugh no.”
However, some defended the film. One user, rating it three-and-a-half stars, said, “Not sure why this film has such a low rating. Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence have great chemistry. The film may seem a little far fetched but we’re dealing with space so why not? A thoroughly enjoyable film it has to be said. Harshly judged and I don’t know why.”
Another concluded, “There’s so many ways for this to be better. Still didn’t hate it though.”
What’s your take?
Other News Sources
- Movie Review Passengers is a film that delves into the complexities of human relationships, exploring themes of isolation, connection, and moral dilemmas.(read more)
- Daily Dot emphasizes that Passengers is a “terrible thriller disguised as an even worse love story,” criticizing its mishandling of a creepy and unsettling premise that fails to deliver a convincing romance.(read more)
- The Christian Science Monitor article titled “Critics pan sci-fi film Passengers: Can JLaw and Chris Pratt save the box office?” highlights the negative reception of the 2016 film by critics, questioning whether the star power of Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt can salvage its commercial performance.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why are people review-bombing Jennifer Lawrence’s movie now?
People are stumbling upon ‘Passengers’ and sharing their reviews online despite it being released over seven years ago.
What is the plot of ‘Passengers’?
‘Passengers’ centers around a sleeper ship damaged by an asteroid, waking a mechanical engineer who faces a moral conundrum.
How did ‘Passengers’ perform at the box office?
‘Passengers’ grossed $303.1 million worldwide on a $110-150 million budget.
What was the critical reception of ‘Passengers’?
Critics gave ‘Passengers’ a 30% score on Rotten Tomatoes, but it had a 63% audience score.
What are some common opinions about ‘Passengers’ on Letterboxd?
Opinions vary; some find it boring or flawed, while others enjoy the chemistry between Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence.
