Ryan Reynolds’ Worst Movie Is a Sci-Fi Flop, Says Rotten Tomatoes

Ryan Reynolds Has His Worst Movie with a Sci-Fi Bomb According to Rotten Tomatoes

For quite some time, Hollywood struggled to find the right formula for Ryan Reynolds. Initially cast as a romantic lead, Reynolds found limited success with romance films—while “Just Friends” faded from memory, “The Proposal” made waves in 2009. He attempted to carve out a niche in horror, but the remake of “The Amityville Horror” did little for his career. While fans embraced his comedic flair in films like “Waiting…” and “Van Wilder,” he eventually got boxed in as the goofy guy. Reynolds’ attempts at action were met with criticism in titles like “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” and “Green Lantern,” both of which were excoriated by audiences and Reynolds himself. His real breakout occurred with roles in “The Voices,” “Pokémon Detective Pikachu,” and, of course, “Deadpool,” propelling him into major stardom. His 2024 project, “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which he co-wrote and produced, brought in over $1.3 billion.

However, prior to his rise, Reynolds starred in the 2013 fantasy-action film “R.I.P.D.”—a project that held promise on paper but failed to deliver. In “R.I.P.D.,” he portrayed Nick Walker, a police officer who finds himself in the afterlife and is forced into the Rest in Peace Department. Alongside an Old West sheriff, Roycephus Pulsipher, played by Jeff Bridges, they embark on a mission to capture souls that have evaded judgment. The film aimed to capture the buddy cop essence reminiscent of “Men in Black,” but it fell short.

With a hefty budget of around $150 million, “R.I.P.D.” was saturated with visual effects but received a disastrous 13% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, marking it Reynolds’ lowest-rated project. The film grossed about $79 million worldwide—making it a significant box office disappointment, only surpassed by “Green Lantern.”

The root of “R.I.P.D.’s” flaws lay not in its inspiration from “Men in Black,” but rather in its lack of humor. Despite Reynolds’ natural comedic talent, his chemistry with Bridges was non-existent. The premise featured an intriguing concept where R.I.P.D. members looked normal to each other but appeared as alternative avatars to others. Reynolds opted for the form of James Hong, while Bridges transformed into model Marisa Miller. This body-swapping element had the potential for deeper explorations of identity, yet the film chose to focus on surface-level jokes centered around Reynolds’ character’s insecurities about taking on an elderly appearance.

Critics didn’t hold back in tearing “R.I.P.D.” apart, denouncing it as a lackluster experience. Steven Boone from RogerEbert.com drew immediate parallels with “Men in Black,” labeling it generic and derivative, with only Mary Louise Parker’s performance earning any semblance of praise. Manohla Dargis of the New York Times offered a glimmer of hope, stating that Bridges was the film’s saving grace, while Richard Corliss from Time Magazine quipped that watching the movie felt like enduring a tedious jury duty. Alonso Duralde of The Wrap argued that it resembled an outdated pilot from the mid-1980s.

With a 13% Rotten Tomatoes rating, “R.I.P.D.” stands lower than “Van Wilder” (18%), the body-swap flick “Self/Less” (18%), and the lesser-known drama “Fireflies in the Garden” (21%). Even films notoriously criticized like “Blade: Trinity” and “Green Lantern” managed to land in the 25% range. Ultimately, “R.I.P.D.” is a reminder of how not to make the most of a promising cast and concept, leaving audiences unimpressed and critics shaking their heads.