Seven years after its release, Jennifer Lawrence’s poorly reviewed sci-fi romance is still getting online reviews. Some actors may believe that producing numerous films will overshadow their lesser works. Unfortunately, that theory doesn’t hold true for Lawrence.
Written by Jon Spaihts (known as co-writer of Dune) and directed by Morten Tyldum (The Imitation Game), the film stars Lawrence, Chris Pratt, Michael Sheen (Good Omens) and Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix). The story revolves around a sleeping ship that carries hibernating people from a destroyed Earth to a planet 120 years away. Thirty years into the journey, an asteroid damages the ship and awakens a lonely mechanical engineer who faces a moral dilemma over his lonely wakefulness.
“Passengers” was released in 2016 and failed to impress critics despite its star-studded cast. According to Box Office Mojo, the film grossed $303.1 million worldwide on a budget of $110-150 million. At the 89th Academy Awards, the film was nominated for Best Original Score and Best Production Design. However, critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave it a poor 30 percent, while audiences gave it a more positive rating of 63 percent.
In 2024, new viewers on Letterboxd gave mixed reviews, giving the film an average rating of 2.8 out of five. One viewer rated it two and a half stars, noting, “Entertaining plot and premise, but for some reason it just doesn’t get there despite having two actors at their best. Still, for some reason this film falls into my ‘I know it’s not good, but I want to keep watching it’ category.”
Another user gave it two stars and commented, “Zzzzz, kind of boring.” A third reviewer rated it one and a half stars and said, “Ugh, no.”
However, some defended the film. One user who gave it three and a half stars said, “I’m not sure why this film was rated so low. Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence have great chemistry. The film may seem a little far-fetched, but we’re dealing with space here, so why not? It has to be said that it is a thoroughly entertaining film. It was judged harshly and I don’t know why.”
Another concluded, “There are so many ways to improve this. But I still didn’t like it.”
What is your opinion?
Other news sources
- Film review “Passengers” is a film that explores the complexity of human relationships and deals with themes such as isolation, connection and moral dilemmas. (read more)
- Daily Point stresses that Passengers is a “terrible thriller disguised as an even worse love story,” criticizing the mishandling of a creepy and disturbing premise that fails to deliver a compelling romance. (read more)
- The Christian Science Monitor An article titled “Critics slam sci-fi film Passengers: Can JLaw and Chris Pratt save the box office?” examines the negative critical reception of the 2016 film and questions whether the star-studded cast of Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt can save its commercial performance. (read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about this news
Why is Jennifer Lawrence’s film being panned so much now?
People keep coming across “Passengers” and sharing their reviews online, even though the film came out over seven years ago.
What is the plot of “Passengers”?
“Passengers” centers on a sleeper ship damaged by an asteroid that awakens a mechanical engineer who is faced with a moral dilemma.
How did Passengers perform at the box office?
“Passengers” grossed $303.1 million worldwide, with a budget of between $110 and $150 million.
How was “Passengers” received by critics?
Critics gave Passengers a 30% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but the audience rating was 63%.
What are the most 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.
