Joey King’s Netflix sci-fi filmUgliesdropped on September 13, and, unfortunately, its reviews are abysmal, meaning the actress' poorRotten Tomatoesstreak continues. King got her start as a child actress, with her breakout role coming when she starred as Ramona Quimby inRamona and Beezusin 2010. She gained further recognition when she signed on to play Elle Evans inThe Kissing Boothmovie series, and King’s performance as Gypsy Rose Blanchard inThe Actwas critically acclaimed and earned her an Emmy nomination. Despite her successes,King has fallen victim to starring in poorly-rated movies.
Joey King’s highest-rated movie onRotten TomatoesisThe Conjuring, which has an 86 percent Tomatometer score and an 83 percent Popcornmeter score. Meanwhile, King’s lowest-rated film isSlender Man, which has an eight percent Tomatometer score and a 17 percent Popcornmeter score.
Uglieshas received negative reviews,but the film is adapted from the popular book series of the same name by Scott Westerfeld. The story follows King’s Tally Youngblood, a teenager living in a post-apocalyptic society where looks are everything. When one turns 16, they undergo a procedure to turn them into a “pretty.” Before,theUgliescharacters were called “ugly,“but once they reach a certain age, they join the rest of society and succumb to its beauty standards. At the center of it all is King’s Tally. Unfortunately, though, while many loved the book, the movie wasn’t as well received.
Uglies Continues Joey King’s “Rotten” Netflix Movie Streak
Uglies Has A 22% Rotten Tomatoes Score
As of the writing of this article,Uglies' Tomatometer score onRotten Tomatoessits at 22 percent(averaged from almost 20 reviews). Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem possible for that number to ever reach “Fresh” status because it is so low, meaning thatthe 2024 Netflix sci-fi movieis considered “Rotten,” continuing Joey King’s record of “Rotten” Netflix movies. All of King’s Netflix projects dating back to 2018 have poorRotten Tomatoesscores. Unfortunately,Uglieswasn’t able to break the streak.
15%
56%
29%
38%
24%
19%
41%
30%
22%
61%
Of course, reviews aren’t everything, as proven by theKissing Boothtrilogy. Although the three movies all obtained “Rotten” status, Netflix continued making them.The Kissing Boothfilm series had high enough ratings to get two sequels. So, perhapsnot all hope is lost forUglies,but the fact thatJoey King’s moviehas a 22 percent score on the Tomatometer might still be discouraging for the actress, especially knowing her history with Netflix.
Why Uglies' Reviews Are So Negative
Reviews Criticize The Sci-Fi Film’s Script, Special Effects, & More
Given thatUglies’Rotten Tomatoesscore is so low, most critics have come to a consensus regarding the film’s quality. The negative reviews state thatthe Netflix sci-fi movie’s action scenes fail to impress,its script has little ground to stand on, the special effects are subpar, and its message is neither strong nor fresh. For example, Samantha Bergeson fromIndieWirewrote, “The message of non-conformity feels stale, in the YA adaptation space and beyond.” And Tomris Laffly’s review forVarietystates, “All these generic-looking, CGI-heavy psychedelic environs have been seen before in other (better) sci-fi movies and picture books.”
Joey King’s Upcoming Sci-Fi Movie Can Help Redeem A Promising Franchise That Failed Nearly 10 Years Ago
Joey King is set to star in an upcoming Netflix science-fiction action movie reminiscent of a failed sci-fi franchise from ten years ago.
It’s easy to see whereUglieswent wrong, especially when multiple reviews point out the same problems. However,not all critics were completely negative while writing their reviews.Some pointed out the Netflix film’s shortcomings while also praising some of its high points, like Joey King playing Tally Youngblood inthe cast ofUglies. Frank Scheck fromThe Hollywood Reporterwrote that King’s performance was “impressive,” while others noted the cast’s dedication.
What Uglies' Reviews Mean For Uglies 2 Happening On Netflix
Uglies Is An Adaptation Of A Book Trilogy
Sincethe ending ofUgliessets up a sequel,Netflix seemingly planned on ordering a second moviebased on the second novel in theUgliesbook series. However, the streaming service has to take into account all the variables when considering a sequel. The 2024 sci-fi film’s overflow of negative reviews certainly isn’t helping its chances of continuing. However, ifUgliesperforms well on Netflix by having high viewership numbers, nothing else matters and a sequel will happen. Only time will tell its fate, though.
Uglies
Cast
In a futuristic society where everyone undergoes compulsory cosmetic surgery at 16 to become “pretty,” Tally eagerly awaits her transformation. However, when her friend goes missing, she embarks on a journey that challenges her beliefs about beauty, conformity, and rebellion, ultimately questioning the foundations of their world.
