Overview
- Early reviews published this week show a mixed-to-negative reception, with Rotten Tomatoes at about 39% and Metacritic hovering near the low 50s, signaling weak early critical momentum ahead of the Aug. 28 theatrical and IMAX launch.
- Critics consistently single out Erik Messerschmidt’s cinematography and the film’s large‑format aerial photography as standout elements that justify IMAX presentation.
- Reviewers also praise lead work from Jacob Elordi and Margaret Qualley, saying their performances bring emotional weight even when the material is uneven.
- The most common complaints focus on Mark L. Smith’s screenplay and the film’s slow pacing, with several critics calling the story familiar, underwritten or uneven in tone.
- Industry coverage notes commercial risk: the film carried a reportedly large production budget and the studio’s premium‑format strategy will put pressure on a strong opening weekend and international returns to reach breakeven.