Early ‘Rebel Moon’ Reactions Are Not Good: “An Absolute Buffet for Zack Snyder Haters”

As Zack Snyder's buzzy space opera, “Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire”, nears its debut on Netflix, first reactions are very mixed for the upcoming film.

Supposedly, according to one reaction, “Rebel Moon” is a film in which characters start the film speaking in one accent and end it in a completely different one.

Next, Best Pictures' Matt Neglia expressed dissatisfaction with the film's "clunky execution" throughout: "REBEL MOON - PART ONE: A CHILD OF FIRE should’ve aligned with my predilection for epic storytelling but left me feeling detached. Zack Snyder’s clunky execution makes even the most basic drama feel tedious. Derivative sci-fi with unimpressive slow-mo action & dull characters," he said.

One writer, BroBible's Eric Italiano, actually admitted that ‘Rebel Moon’ was "the first movie I’ve walked out of in a long, long time," calling out its "bad acting" and suggesting the movie is "an absolute buffet for Zack Snyder haters."

ComicBook.com's Brandon Davis "wanted to love Rebel Moon," but he felt the "ambitious story could’ve been better delivered":

"I wanted to love 'Rebel Moon' and *parts* of it I did, especially the end. It spends so much time assembling the team so getting to know the characters more in the extended cut will probably enhance it. It’s big on style but the ambitious story could’ve been better delivered."

It’s not all bad. Some film writers did like “Rebel Moon,” such as The Playlist’s Griffin Schiller and Joblo’s Chris Bumbray, but we should be very concerned about the mixed response on X — usually, first reactions on social media tend to be over the top in praise. That doesn’t seem to be the case here.

There are definitely Zack Snyder fans out there — they are loud and vocal about their admiration for the “Justice League” filmmaker. This movie is probably for them. Sadly, I’m not one of them. I found things to like about “Watchmen” and his “Dawn of the Dead” remake, but not enough to convert me to his church of moviegoing.

'Cosmic Motors,' John Lasseter's First Film in 15 Years, Moves from Netflix to Paramount Theatrical Release

Netflix and Skydance Animation have also called it quits. The two sides announced Monday that they're ending the animated film deal struck back in 2023, framing it as a mutual decision.

Edward Berger’s Lance Armstrong Biopic, Starring Austin Butler, Starts Production in January

Edward Berger seems to have settled on what comes next. His Lance Armstrong biopic, starring Austin Butler, is now holding casting calls, with production eyed for January.

Ramin Bahrani’s ‘Last Meals’ to Star Mads Mikkelsen, Boyd Holbrook, Michael Shannon, and Tessa Thompson

In "Last Meals," Mikkelsen stars as Walter Karat, a disgraced former White House chef now preparing final meals for death row inmates at a maximum security prison.

‘NAZA’: Israel Moves to Strip Citizenship From Oscar-Winning Filmmakers Behind Gaza Doc

After its much-reported Venice premiere, Israel's culture minister is vowing to strip citizenship from the two Israeli filmmakers behind "NAZA."

Chris Rock’s ‘Misty Green’ Premieres, Rosalind Eleazar Stuns — 73 on Metacritic [TIFF]

I wouldn't call this film great — it stops short of that because of how neatly it resolves itself — but I'll give Rock his due here: this is much better than his previous directorial effort, "Top Five."

August 19, 2019

3-Hour ‘Midsommar' Director's Cut Screened in NYC

This year’s 12th edition of the Scary Movies festival at Film at Lincoln Center premiered Ari Aster’s extended version of “Midsommar” this past Saturday.

Joaquin Phoenix Reuniting with Mike Mills for Next Film, Shooting in January 2027

Phoenix is set to reunite with Mills on this next film, which is being distributed by A24 and starts shooting January 2027. This will be Phoenix’s first film since “Eddington.”

Paul Thomas Anderson Has Already Chosen His Next Film, Jonny Greenwood Says

“Paul is getting close to pressing the button on the next film, I believe, and I’m already trying to learn a new instrument that would be central to it,” Greenwood tells Screen Daily.

Ridley Scott Says “I Didn’t Say That” After Calling ‘The Dog Stars’ His Best Movie Since ‘The Martian’

In June 2026, Scott told The Buyer that “The Dog Stars” is “probably the best movie I’ve done since The Martian.” He’s now denying he ever said that.

Todd Field-Written ‘The Girls’ Sets Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic to Direct, November Shoot

Cinephiles another Todd Field movie, and although we might have to wait for his next directorial effort, “The Girls” will have to suffice for now.

Fritz Lang’s ‘M’ Tops the Best Films of the 1930s, According to 100+ Critics

We’ve gone through the decades. The ‘40s ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, ‘2000s, and ‘2010s. — all revisited, argued over. Now, here are the results for the best films of the 1930s.

Critics Poll: ‘Citizen Kane' Named Best Film of the 1940s

The results are in, and according to critics, this decade filled with cinematic riches did not have a better film than Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane.” Nobody should be surprised by this result. “Citizen Kane” changed cinema forever.

Critics Poll: ‘Vertigo’ Named Best Film of the 1950s, Over 120 Participants

It was a closer race than anticipated, but Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” has topped our best of the ’50s poll, besting Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen’s “Singin’ in the Rain” by just two votes.

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