Obama Film Flooded With Bad Reviews Amid Backlash: 'Waste of Time'

A film co-produced by former President Barack Obama has been flooded with negative reviews on Rotten Tomatoes this week as many on social media continue to criticize the film, with some saying that it "warns" the world about white people.

"Some movies are just...bad. This is one of them," one reviewer, Joseph S, wrote on Rotten Tomatoes, including a one-star rating.

Similarly, reviewer Ry G wrote, "Couldn't make it past the first 40m. Cringeworthy perfectly describes the movie. Save yourself the pain and lost time, and skip this movie," giving the movie one star.

Following the film's release last month, some social media users criticized a scene in which a Black couple is heard speaking about trust and saying "if the world falls apart, trust should not be doled out easily to anyone, especially white people." Many social media users took aim at Obama as his Higher Ground production company is a co-producer. Obama also served as a consultant to the film's director, Sam Esmail.

The film, which was released on streaming on December 8, and features actors including Ethan Hawke, Kevin Bacon, Mahershala Ali and Julia Roberts.

"A family's getaway to a luxurious rental home takes an ominous turn when a cyberattack knocks out their devices — and two strangers appear at their door," Netflix says in its description of the film.

Esmail previously told Vanity Fair that he received "a lot of notes about the characters and the empathy we would have for them" from Obama.

"I have to say he is a big movie lover, and he wasn't just giving notes about things that were from his background. He was giving notes as a fan of the book, and he wanted to see a really good film," Esmail said.

LibsofTikTok said on X, formerly Twitter that the film "produced by the Obamas includes a scene demonizing white people. White people are the only group you're allowed and celebrated to be racist towards and it will be put into movies by the most influential people."

The Citizen Free Press also criticized the film, saying that it "fantasizes a cyber apocalypse and warns about white people if the world falls apart."

In addition to backlash on social media, many other viewers criticized the film on Rotten Tomatoes, such as Kevin H, who wrote, "Typical modern Hollywood writing. Nothing to see here, move along. Do the dishes, mow the lawn, anything other than watching this movie will be more entertaining."

Another reviewer wrote: "The sooner you shut off this movie - the better! Is this a joke? A social experiment about subjecting people to utter garbage? Like the other reviews say - worst movie ever!"

Reviewer Gary H said: "This was one of the most awful movies I have seen in a long time. The whole movie was a build up with almost zero payoff. It literally bored me to sleep a few times. If I missed something that made it good, someone needs to explain it. I personally suggest not watching this."

Some reviewers had very different takes, such as Jayson F, who wrote, "truly disturbing movie because for many things that happen in the movie, it possibly could become a reality. Do not know why all the bad reviews I don't get it every person I know that saw liked it and was disturbed by it."

Biff H wrote: "Great actors performing a complex script. Amazing," giving the movie five stars.

Reviewer Liz V gave the movie four stars on Rotten Tomatoes and wrote: "I literally got this account just to tell you this: fantastic plot, great casting, enjoyed the movie, but the ending was beyond bad. Ruined the entire thing. Worth watching for the cast (who performed beyond what's expected for this genre) and the plot. Just.....shut it down 45 seconds before the end and save yourself."

Newsweek reached out to the Obama Foundation via email for comment.