The release of Ice Cube War of the Worlds movie has ignited a firestorm across the internet, making headlines and dominating social media discussions. Within the first 20 words of its debut, critics and fans alike were shocked by its rare 0% Rotten Tomatoes score and the overwhelming wave of negative reviews that followed.
Starring rap legend and actor Ice Cube, alongside Eva Longoria, this modern adaptation of H.G. Wells’ classic sci-fi tale premiered on Amazon Prime Video on July 30, 2025. Directed by Rich Lee and packed with contemporary themes of privacy, surveillance, and technology, the film attempted to reinvent the alien invasion story for a digital age. However, it has instead gone viral for the wrong reasons, being mocked as “a feature-length ad for Amazon” and panned for its unconventional “screenlife” format, where nearly all the action unfolds via webcams, livestreams, and phone screens.
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What Went Wrong with the Film?
- Record-breaking negative reception: As of August 8, 2025, War of the Worlds holds a 0% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, joining a select club of films with unanimous critical disapproval.
- Audience score tells the same story: With barely 14% on the audience “Popcornmeter,” viewers seem almost as disappointed as critics.
- Cast and performances: Ice Cube stars as Will Radford, a Department of Homeland Security surveillance expert, while Eva Longoria plays NASA scientist Sandra Salas. Despite a cast of seasoned actors and ambitious technological storytelling, reviews describe performances as “bland” and the script as “silly”.
- Viral ridicule: Social media has exploded with clips, particularly one comedic sequence involving a drone delivery of a USB stick to save the world, seen as a low point in the film’s over-the-top branding.
Behind the Production
The movie was conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic, taking inspiration from how modern audiences experience global events—through devices and apps. According to the filmmakers, this “screenlife” approach offered a first-person immersion meant to mirror our contemporary relationship with technology. Timur Bekmambetov and Patrick Aiello produced the film with Universal Pictures, aiming for a cost-effective, yet visually distinct, adaptation.
Yet, while the intention was to make War of the Worlds relatable for today’s audiences, many reviewers called the execution heavy-handed, with some joking that it felt more like an extended Amazon commercial than a sci-fi epic.
The Social Media Backlash
From TikTok to Reddit, the movie’s odd creative choices have become meme fodder. Not only did rapper 50 Cent join in poking fun at the film online, but Ice Cube’s own son chimed in, questioning its existence and branding the outcome as “truly unbelievable” for its star-studded cast and sizable budget.
Critics particularly highlighted lengthy scenes of Ice Cube’s character interacting with family and hacking into government Zoom meetings, as well as the oddball finale involving a drone delivery saving Washington, DC—a sequence that has gone viral for its absurdity.
Will the Film Become a Cult Classic or Just a Meme?
Despite the widespread criticism and viral mockery, some fans speculate that Ice Cube War of the Worlds movie may eventually gain cult status among lovers of so-bad-it’s-good cinematic disasters. For now, it stands as one of 2025’s most controversial releases—a modern sci-fi “event” that’s made more noise off the screen than on it.
Have you watched the film? Share your thoughts in the comments below and let the conversation continue!