WONDER WOMAN 1984 Manages To Regain Fresh Status On Rotten Tomatoes With 60% Score

Late last week, Wonder Woman 1984's Rotten Tomatoes score fell to 59%, and the sequel was dubbed "Rotten," as a result. Now, it's managed to return to "Fresh" status, but can it stay there this time?

By JoshWilding - Jan 11, 2021 06:01 AM EST

Filed Under: Wonder Woman 1984

Wonder Woman 1984 debuted to rave reviews, and it didn't take long at all for the DC Comics sequel to be "Certified Fresh." That didn't last, though, and as the percentage score continued to fall with the addition of more reviews to Rotten Tomatoes, it found itself dubbed "Rotten" with 59%.

Well, Warner Bros. will no doubt be glad to see that Patty Jenkins' movie has regained its "Fresh" status with 60%. Should it dip back down, though, then it becomes another "Rotten" DCEU release.

380 reviews have been counted thus far, while there are 2,640 verified ratings from regular moviegoers. From them, Wonder Woman 1984 receives a score of 74%, a number which seems a little more fitting.

Why have some critics turned on the movie? It's hard to say for sure, but the latest reviews make for interesting reading (even if the names of the publications aren't overly familiar).

The Reader, for example, says "Warner Bros spent $200 million to waste 2.5 hours of everyone's life as a small measure of revenge." Australia's Herald Sun isn't much kinder, stating: "On and on this wonky, barely coherent tale goes, weakened further still by the wonky, barely expressive acting skills of Gadot." Mediaversity Reviews, meanwhile, points out that, "Meaningful representation consists of more than simply casting women and people of color."

Oof.

Those are just a few examples, but there are clearly quite a few critics out there who really didn't enjoy what Jenkins brought to the table this time around (those comments about Gadot are way too harsh).

We'll keep you guys updated as this situation continues to play out.

Click on the "Next" button below to take a look at
what did and didn't work in Wonder Woman 1984!

Did Work: The New "No Man's Land" Scene(s)

The "No Man's Land" scene in 2017's Wonder Woman was filmmaking at its best, and it was never going to be easy for Patty Jenkins to recapture that magic in the upcoming sequel.

Well, she manages to do so not once, but twice here. The first comes when the weakened Diana Prince (her powers are fading following Steve Trevor's return) battles Maxwell Lord's private army in the Middle East. Doing what she can to stop them, that now classic theme from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice plays in the background as the Amazon proves why she's a hero.

The second is when Wonder Woman's powers start returning to her, and she runs through Washington DC before taking flight for the first time. It's a breathtaking, must-see sequence.

Didn't Work: Wonder Woman Vs. Cheetah

Wonder Woman 1984 devotes a lot of time to Dr. Barbara Minerva's transformation into Cheetah, and Kristen Wiig does a phenomenal job playing this character while taking her down a dark path.

While the moment she decides to undergo one final transformation does feel earned thanks to what's come before, the battle between Diana and Cheetah majorly disappoints. The only character here capable of taking the hero on in a fight, it's a shame that this is less of an epic fight scene, and more of a technical piece of filmmaking seemingly paying homage to Cirque du Soleil.

The scene taking place at night doesn't really help matters either. Ultimately, it just doesn't work, and ends up feeling like a waste of the Golden Eagle armour as well (we'll get to that a little later).

Did Work: The 1980s Aesthetic

The 1980s have been overused to the point of it just feeling tedious in recent years (we can seemingly blame the success of Netflix's Stranger Things for that), so there will no doubt be plenty of you who aren't overly excited about Wonder Woman 1984 taking place in, well, 1984!

Patty Jenkins does something unique with that aesthetic, though, making it more than just a backdrop.

In fact, there are times when this sequel feels like a blockbuster which would have been released during that period, and that's a real credit to the filmmaker. When Wonder Woman first comes on the scene to save some hostages during a jewellery robbery in a mall, it's cheesy good fun, and the visuals are amazing. Rather than jumping to the present, we'd love to see Jenkins tackle the 90s!

Did Work: Pedro Pascal's Maxwell Lord

Every great superhero movie needs a strong villain and, as mentioned, Dr. Barbara Minerva fits the bill (it's only when she undergoes that animalistic transformation the character disappoints).

As for Pedro Pascal's Maxwell Lord...well, The Mandalorian star really can do no wrong. Lord is someone desperate to be a success and make his son proud, especially after a difficult childhood of his own. This take on the villain is far more nuanced than his comic book counterpart, and infinitely more interesting. He's well-written, but Pascal's performance is what makes Lord soar.

So much more than the cheesy bad guy the trailers have teased, Lord makes for a terrific big bad, and the actor really leans into creating a Donald Trump-like businessman from this period of time.

Didn't Work: The Sequel's MacGuffin

So, there are some great baddies in Wonder Woman 1984, but what are they after? Looking to turn his failing business around, Maxwell Lord tracks down an ancient artefact which can grant him any wish he wants. The problem is, getting your wish comes with a catch (in his case, his health).

For Diana, it's her powers, and for Barbara, her humanity and inherent goodness. That all works pretty well, but ultimately, a wish-granting rock being used as the MacGuffin is...well, kind of lame.

It's all a little too convenient, and as the movie progresses, it becomes harder to understand how it actually works. This is by no means something that "breaks" this sequel, but there were surely better ways to handle Steve Trevor's return and the good doctor's transformation into Cheetah!

Did Work: Steve Trevor's Return

Talking of Steve Trevor, while the means of his resurrection are a tad disappointing, everything else works perfectly. Chris Pine is even better here than he was in 2017, and clearly having a lot of fun portraying a Steve who is quite literally discovering a whole new world seventy years after his death.

His enthusiasm for the way things have changed is infectious, and there are a lot of great laughs to be had from watching Steve get used to his surroundings (and this decade's unique fashion).

Reminding Diana what makes her such a great hero, the character is crucial to this adventure. When it comes to a highlight, though, the duo flying above Washington D.C. as fireworks go off around them is a stunning scene and one which will leave you really rooting for them both to get a happy ending.

Did Work: The Action Scenes

Director Patty Jenkins is getting ready to start shooting Rogue Squadron for Lucasfilm, and believe us when we say that the filmmaker couldn't be a better choice to tackle a Star Wars movie.

Despite some minor pitfalls here and there, Wonder Woman 1984 never disappoints when it comes to the action scenes. Yes, that Cheetah battle won't work for everyone, but it is exciting, and a solid piece of filmmaking. Aside from that, however, every other battle and action scene is a sight to behold.

The White House fight is one that stands out, but it's probably still Wonder Woman taking flight for the first time and using the Lasso of Truth to ride the lightning which will resonate with many.

Didn't Work: The Golden Eagle Armour

This is more of a did and didn't work, but we can't help but express disappointment with the use of Diana Prince's Golden Eagle armour in Wonder Woman 1984 (even if it is ultimately a minor complaint).

Factoring into the sequel's marketing campaign since day one, it looked a lot like this eye-catching suit would have a huge role to play in the movie. Instead, it gets about as much screentime as Cheetah...which is to say, not much! It's a real shame as the suit looks amazing in action too.

Was it only included as an excuse to sell more merch and freshen up Diana's look in marketing materials? Quite possibly, but we just wish the Golden Eagle armour could have been a bigger part of the story.

Did Work: A Powerful, Emotional Storyline

When those first Wonder Woman 1984 reactions surfaced, there were people saying the sequel left them in tears. It seemed like hyperbole at its finest, but they might have actually been on to something.

This sequel delivers a powerful, emotional storyline which adds depth to its four leads in a meaningful way. Diana and Steve's romance is very much at the heart of this movie, while Maxwell Lord and Dr. Barbara Minerva are both relatable villains whose motivations aren't that hard to understand.

They're sympathetic, and that makes everything that plays out here land just a little bit harder. Needless to say, if you're a crier during movies, then prepare yourself for the way things wrap up here.

Didn't Work: CGI Cheetah

We alluded to this a little earlier, but Cheetah does not look good in Wonder Woman 1984. At all.

Warner Bros. has a real issue with CGI characters (Doomsday, Steppenwolf, and Enchantress' brother, for example), and that trend continues with this sequel. Cheetah by no means looks terrible, but it's clear the dark surroundings of this fight were being used to disguise mostly disappointing visual effects.

Looking a little too furry, and a far too human, this Cheetah doesn't exactly do the comic books justice. Her appearance there is a simple one, and it could have worked nicely had this sequel stuck a little closer to that. Instead, she proves to be every bit as underwhelming as the leaked promo art suggested.

Gal Gadot Is Expected To Appear As WONDER WOMAN In Several Upcoming DC Comics Movies

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60 Comments

1 2

marvel72 - 1/11/2021, 6:01 AM

Someones been paid off.

soberchimera - 1/11/2021, 6:03 AM

@marvel72 - WarnerMedia owns 25% of RT.......so yeah.

Blergh - 1/11/2021, 6:06 AM

@soberchimera - It's not a stretch to think that they purposefully delayed some of the worse reviews to boast their HBO Max numbers.
Lot riding on that

GhostDog - 1/11/2021, 6:09 AM

@marvel72 -

marvel72 - 1/11/2021, 6:12 AM

@soberchimera - It still doesn't change the fact that it's either a fresh turd or a rotten turd.

Chewtoy - 1/11/2021, 6:21 AM

@marvel72 - Nah, it’s because they round up. It currently sits at a 59.7% rating.

soberchimera - 1/11/2021, 6:27 AM

@marvel72 - A "fresh" review doesn't differentiate between someone who loved it and someone who thought it was tolerable.

aresww3 - 1/11/2021, 6:32 AM

@marvel72 - I think 60 is about right. Its not as awful as some people are making out. Its just more indefensible as sequel to a really great movie. That being said it gave detractors more than enough ammo to tear it shreds.

But yeah its not Batman and Robin bad or even Batman Forever, and non it is not Superman 4 bad either. I'd say its on notch below Batman V Superman and Man Of Steel. Literally a 6 out of 10 movie.

SonOfOdor - 1/11/2021, 11:54 AM

@aresww3 - nah it's pretty bad bro lol I watched it with my wife and we both laughed and cringed through the whole movie. I usually like to be pretty forgiving of comic book movies, but this one deserves the criticism it's getting.

aresww3 - 1/11/2021, 12:03 PM

@SonOfOdor - Again its hard to defend this movie. it really is. I don't know if Patty thought because it was an 80s film she could get away with it being bomnbastically stupid. It just makes no sense to me, even if she was going for Donner and Lynda Carteresque aesthetic and storytelling, they didn't have as many Deus Machina's, plot convieniances and plotholes as this movie. The internal logic and writing of those shows was far more consistent than even this.

I just don't know where her head is at.
But that being said there was a portion of the film I did enjoy and some stand out scenes.

SonOfOdor - 1/11/2021, 12:07 PM

@aresww3 - Exactly, I have no problem with what she was TRYING to go for with this movie, it's just that the execution was terrible. Nothing made sense and as a whole it just didn't sell me.

But I am going to give it some time then give it another watch. Maybe after my initial disappointment I will enjoy it more on second viewing.

aresww3 - 1/11/2021, 12:35 PM

@SonOfOdor - watch it in a really good mood and skip the mall scene. I watched it like that and it honestly played better. still hugely flawed but in the right mood gets better.

regularmovieguy - 1/11/2021, 6:13 PM

@Blergh

That would be a huge scandal. If one reviewer came out and said, “hey RT isn’t posting my review, what’s going on?” WB would be in hot water.

I think it’s more likely that they sent screeners out sparingly and as more and more people saw it, the score went down. Probably sent them out to critics who they know are friendlier when it comes to corporate reviews.

MosquitoFarmer - 1/11/2021, 6:02 AM

Yeah, because people like their tomatoes 60% fresh.

defenderofthefaith - 1/11/2021, 6:05 AM

Saw it last night. Didn't like it that much.

Blergh - 1/11/2021, 6:05 AM

Still a far cry away from the original 88%.

Urubrodi - 1/11/2021, 6:07 AM

Wowww... what a victory...

IronGenesis - 1/11/2021, 6:10 AM

Top Critics have it at 71%

But when you have to battle the astute observations of The Niagara Gazette or the F- (a grade that doesn’t actually exist) from The Reader.

The sledding gets a little tough. 😂

Mando - 1/11/2021, 6:12 AM

Ha ha Warner bros y'all aint slick..

If I'm not mistaken doesn't warner bros own like part of rotten tomato

GhostDog - 1/11/2021, 6:18 AM

Australia's Herald Sun woke up and chose violence. Sheesh.

Kumkani - 1/11/2021, 6:31 AM

@BlackBeltJones - Honestly dragged Gadot.

WeaponXCII - 1/11/2021, 6:19 AM

Happy to see it back up, but I’m hoping we don’t see a new article for every new review that comes in....

Doomsday8888 - 1/11/2021, 6:25 AM

Oh how the turntablesssss

If you know...you know! :P

Jokes aside, seeing Diana strugglin so hard in order to be rott-eerrrr i mean fresh is just so f*cking sad, man... :(

Alexa, play Despacito por favor.

Doomsday8888 - 1/11/2021, 6:30 AM

>Deadass hating on Despacito

Some people are just dead inside, i tell you. >:(

1 2

WONDER WOMAN 1984 Manages To Regain Fresh Status On Rotten Tomatoes With 60% Score

Late last week, Wonder Woman 1984's Rotten Tomatoes score fell to 59%, and the sequel was dubbed "Rotten," as a result. Now, it's managed to return to "Fresh" status, but can it stay there this time?

Did Work: The New "No Man's Land" Scene(s)

Didn't Work: Wonder Woman Vs. Cheetah

Did Work: The 1980s Aesthetic

Did Work: Pedro Pascal's Maxwell Lord

Didn't Work: The Sequel's MacGuffin

Did Work: Steve Trevor's Return

Did Work: The Action Scenes

Didn't Work: The Golden Eagle Armour

Did Work: A Powerful, Emotional Storyline

Didn't Work: CGI Cheetah

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