By Morfeli Data Desk (AI-assisted, data-checked) · Published: November 14, 2026 · Last updated: November 14, 2026 · 6 min read
A government analyst investigates an unknown global threat in this science fiction thriller utilizing a found footage approach to the H.G. Wells narrative.
War of the Worlds (2025) is a science fiction thriller that holds a 4.0 TMDB score and a 2.5 rating on IMDb. Critics reflect these figures, with a 4% Rotten Tomatoes score and a 6/100 Metacritic rating.
Review roundup, not a personal review. Scores and audience reviews were checked on November 14, 2026. Spoiler-free.
- TMDB audience score: 4.0/10 (1204 votes)
- IMDb: 2.5/10 (34,881 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 4%
- Metacritic: 6/100
- Runtime: 1 h 31 min (91 minutes)
- Rank among 2025 releases: about #126 of 126
War of the Worlds Trailer
Official trailer via YouTube. Watch on YouTube
How War of the Worlds Stacks Up
- Among the 126 English-language movies released in 2025 with at least 500 TMDB votes, War of the Worlds ranks about #126 by audience score, roughly the top 100 percent.
- Within science fiction alone, it ranks about #24 of 24 in the same group.
The film ranks last among 126 English-language movies released in 2025 with at least 500 TMDB votes. Within the science fiction genre, it sits at the bottom of its peer group. These low rankings align with the aggregate critic and audience scores provided.
Critics vs Audiences
- IMDb 2.5/10 equals 25 on a 100-point scale, while Metacritic is 6/100, a gap of 19 points in favor of audiences.
- Rotten Tomatoes shows 4% positive critic reviews, compared with an IMDb audience rating of 2.5/10.
- TMDB audiences give it 4.0/10 across 1204 votes.
Different sites measure different things. IMDb and TMDB scores average votes from registered users. The Rotten Tomatoes percentage is the share of critic reviews counted as positive, not an average grade. Metacritic converts reviews into a weighted average out of 100. A title can score high on one and lower on another, so look at all of them together.
What Reviewers Are Saying
This section is based on 6 recent audience reviews posted on TMDB, which rate it 4.0/10 on average (1 positive, 1 mixed, 2 negative among 4 rated reviews). It is a small sample and not the whole audience.
What reviewers praise
- Several TMDB reviewers noted the alien invasion premise is novel and that the script is creative on a limited budget.
- Some reviewers mentioned the film is nonetheless still quite entertaining.
What reviewers criticize
- Several TMDB reviewers stated the film is a disaster with no redeeming qualities.
- Some reviewers criticized the special effects, describing them like a 2004 screensaver.
The reviews behind this summary
| Posted | Rating | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-07 | 6/10 | Read the full review on TMDB |
| 2025-08 | 2/10 | Read the full review on TMDB |
| 2025-08 | 7/10 | Read the full review on TMDB |
| 2025-10 | — | Read the full review on TMDB |
| 2025-10 | 1/10 | Read the full review on TMDB |
| 2026-10 | — | Read the full review on TMDB |
What Is War of the Worlds About? (Spoiler-Free)
Homeland Security analyst Will Radford monitors potential threats through a sophisticated surveillance program. After an attack by an unknown entity occurs, he begins to suspect the government is concealing information from the public.
War of the Worlds at a Glance
| Release date | 2025-07-29 |
|---|---|
| Genres | Science Fiction, Thriller |
| Runtime | 1 h 31 min (91 minutes) |
| Directed by | Rich Lee |
| Written by | Marc Hyman, Kenny Golde |
| Top cast | Ice Cube, Eva Longoria, Clark Gregg, Iman Benson |
| US rating | PG-13 |
| Production | Universal Pictures, Bazelevs, Patrick Aiello Productions |
| More details | IMDb page · TMDB page |
Cast and Characters
- Ice Cube as William Radford
- Eva Longoria as NASA Scientist Sandra Salas
- Clark Gregg as NSA Director Donald Briggs
- Iman Benson as Faith Radford
- Henry Hunter Hall as David Radford
- Devon Bostick as Mark Goodman
- Andrea Savage as FBI Field Agent Sheila Jeffries
- Nicole Pulliam as News Reporter
Behind the Camera
| Music by | Jon Natchez |
|---|---|
| Cinematography | Christopher Probst |
| Editing | Charles Ancelle, Jake York |
| Producers | Timur Bekmambetov, Patrick Aiello, Adam Sidman |
The Cast and Crew’s Track Record
Director Rich Lee leads a cast whose recent projects since 2020 have maintained strong average TMDB scores. Ice Cube, Eva Longoria, and Clark Gregg typically participate in productions with significantly higher audience ratings.
Other recent work from the lead cast of War of the Worlds (since 2020):
| Actor | Recent project | Type | Role | TMDB score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Cube avg 6.9/10 | The Studio (2025) | TV | Ice Cube | 7.8/10 |
| Anaconda (2025) | Movie | Ice Cube | 5.8/10 | |
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023) | Movie | Superfly (voice) | 7.2/10 | |
| The High Note (2020) | Movie | Jack Robertson | 7.0/10 | |
| Eva Longoria avg 7.3/10 | Only Murders in the Building (2021) | TV | Eva Longoria | 8.4/10 |
| The Last Sunrise (2026) | Movie | Isolde Pera | 6.9/10 | |
| The Boss Baby: Family Business (2021) | Movie | Carol (voice) | 7.3/10 | |
| The Pickup (2025) | Movie | Natalie | 6.4/10 | |
| Clark Gregg avg 7.7/10 | Will Trent (2023) | TV | Arthur Highsmith | 7.3/10 |
| What If...? (2021) | TV | Agent Coulson (voice) | 8.0/10 | |
| What If...? (2021) | TV | Agent Phil Coulson (voice) | 8.0/10 | |
| Snowpiercer (2020) | TV | Admiral Anton Milius | 7.3/10 |
Release Timeline (US)
| Release | Date |
|---|---|
| Digital release | Jul 30, 2025 |
Where to Watch (US)
| Streaming | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads |
|---|
Availability data from TMDB (provided by JustWatch), checked November 14, 2026. It changes often.
The Bottom Line
With a 91-minute runtime and a PG-13 rating, the film concludes as a poorly received entry in the science fiction genre. Its metrics across major review platforms consistently reflect a negative reception.
It may suit you if:
- Viewers interested in found footage thrillers and modern interpretations of H.G. Wells's original classic novel.
- Audiences curious about surveillance-themed science fiction stories set within a government control room.
You might skip it if:
- Viewers seeking high-budget special effects or a narrative that avoids heavy reliance on webcam-style footage.
- Those who prefer films with positive critical consensus and high audience approval ratings.
Movies Like War of the Worlds
| Title | TMDB score | About |
|---|---|---|
| Kandahar (2023) | 6.8/10 | After his mission is exposed, an undercover CIA operative stuck deep in hostile territory in Afghanistan must fight his way out, alongside his Afghan… |
| Assassination Nation (2018) | 6.2/10 | After an anonymous hacker begins leaking the private data of thousands living in a small American town, the townspeople spiral into madness, with… |
| Die Alone (2024) | 6.5/10 | Lost in a world reclaimed by nature and overrun by mysterious creatures, Ethan, a young man with amnesia navigates the dangerous landscape in search… |
| The Operative (2019) | 5.8/10 | A young Western woman is recruited by the Mossad to go undercover in Tehran where she becomes entangled in a complex triangle with her handler and… |
| Off the Grid (2025) | 6.5/10 | After a morally-bankrupt company tries to weaponize a brilliant scientist's revolutionary technology, he goes off the grid to safeguard humanity. |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IMDb rating of War of the Worlds?
On November 14, 2026 the IMDb rating was 2.5/10 from 34,881 votes. It changes as people vote.
What is the Rotten Tomatoes score of War of the Worlds?
Rotten Tomatoes listed 4% positive critic reviews on November 14, 2026.
Is War of the Worlds one of the best-rated 2025 movies?
By TMDB audience score it ranks about #126 of 126 English-language titles with at least 500 votes, as of November 14, 2026.
How long is War of the Worlds?
War of the Worlds runs 1 h 31 min (91 minutes), according to TMDB.
Who stars in War of the Worlds?
Ice Cube, Eva Longoria, Clark Gregg, Iman Benson, Henry Hunter Hall.
Data checked on November 14, 2026. Movie and TV data from TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Ratings via OMDb (IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic) where shown. Audience reviews belong to their authors on TMDB. Scores change over time; check the source for the latest numbers.
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About this page. Published by Morfeli on November 14, 2026. Facts come from public data sources (TMDB, OMDb, Deezer, Ticketmaster and entertainment news feeds) and are compiled with AI assistance. Review roundups summarize public scores and audience reviews; they are not a critic’s review, and nobody here claims to have watched or rated a title for the page. Dates, scores and availability change over time. See our Editorial Policy.
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