This might be an analogy only our UK readers will get, but it seems fair to say the Fast & Furious franchise has become like Marmite: you either love it or hate it.
Critics also appear to be divided, as the latest instalment, F9: The Fast Saga, slipped into the dreaded "Rotten" status last night on Rotten Tomatoes. Luckily for the movie, a few more reviews have since been counted, and it's now "Fresh" at 60%. However, should it drop a percentage point or two, it'll once again be in "Rotten" territory.
"F9 sends the franchise hurtling further over the top than ever," reads the Critics Consensus, "but director Justin Lin's knack for preposterous set pieces keeps the action humming."
Despite this mixed response to the blockbuster, it has broken box office records over the weekend with a $70 million debut. That's the biggest opening of the pandemic era, while it also scored the highest-grossing opening weekend since 2019's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Behind F9 this past weekend were A Quiet Place Part II and The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard.
While everyone seems happy that the big screen experience has returned, critics clearly aren't getting caught up in the excitement and praising movies just because they've seen them in a theater.
We'll keep you updated on what happens with F9's Rotten Tomatoes score, but we're sure you'll be more interested in Black Widow's. The review embargo for the Marvel Studios movie lifts at 9am PT today, so you'll want to check back here then for our spoiler-free verdict on the movie.
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