The war for your attention just got personal. In a move that has Hollywood insiders scratching their heads, Netflix is aggressively pushing a slate of films that critics absolutely despised. While the snobs over at Rotten Tomatoes are busy slapping green splats on everything, the streaming giant is doubling down on “flops” from decades past. Is this a genius play to satisfy the masses, or is the streamer desperately padding its library with cheap content because their original fantasy flicks are tanking?
Industry spies tell us the strategy is all about going rogue. They are ignoring the percent scores and banking on the movies that the elite tried to bury. We are talking about explosive action and weird creature features that were left for dead by the press. The question is: why now? Is there a secret data-driven reason why Netflix wants you to watch a movie with a percent rating, or are they just laughing all the way to the bank while the critics scream into the void?
Zoe Saldana: The Contract Killer Critics Hated
First up on the hit list is Colombiana. Back in , this movie was supposed to be the massive sequel to Luc Besson’s classic Leon: The Professional. When the legal red tape made that impossible, it was re-tooled for Zoe Saldana. The result? A measly percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics called it derivative, but the fans are currently eating it up on the app. It makes you wonder: did the critics actually watch the same movie? Saldana is a total powerhouse as a contract killer out for blood.
Rumors are circulating that the movie’s gritty take on a CIA-protected drug lord was a little too close to home for some comfort. Saldana’s character, Cataleya, is a human weapon, and yet the “experts” wanted to talk about plot holes. Our sources say the behind-the-scenes chaos of turning a sequel into a standalone film is exactly why the movie has so much raw, unhinged energy. Netflix knows that in January , people want vengeance, not a lecture on cinematic structure.
I do not care what a website says. Zoe Saldana in a jumpsuit with a sniper rifle is percent better than anything else on the home screen right now.
The suspicious timing of this film’s resurgence suggests a PR pivot for Saldana as she eyes bigger projects. By putting her older, “rotten” work back in the spotlight, Netflix is proving that star power beats a critic’s score every single time. It is a middle finger to the industry standard, and the numbers show that the public is buying what Netflix is selling.
Spielberg’s Secret Bigfoot Scandal
If you want to talk about shady Hollywood behavior, let’s look at Harry and the Hendersons. This flick holds a shaky percent, but here is the kicker: Steven Spielberg went without an executive producer credit. Why would the most famous man in movies hide his name? Was he embarrassed by the Bigfoot drama, or was there a legal loophole involved with Amblin Entertainment? Despite the mid-range score, the movie actually walked away with an Oscar for its makeup effects.
The film stars John Lithgow as a dad who accidentally runs over Sasquatch. It is weird, it is uncomfortable, and it is percent a cult classic that the critics just didn’t get. Insiders suggest that Spielberg’s lack of credit was a calculated move to protect his brand during a year when he was pivoting to more “serious” fare. But now, in , Netflix is exposing the truth by putting this Spielberg-adjacent oddity front and center.
Paparazzi Whispers and Deleted Credits
Paparazzi have long heard whispers that the set of Harry and the Hendersons was a logistical nightmare, with the suit effects causing massive delays. But the final product is undeniably charming. Netflix’s decision to promote a critically panned movie from nearly years ago proves they don’t care about the Hollywood establishment. They want the clicks, and nothing gets clicks like a giant hairy monster in a station wagon.
Why is Netflix trying to make us watch Harry and the Hendersons in ? Are they out of movies? I mean I watched it but still.
The “Watch With Us” team is openly mocking the critics at this point. By highlighting the percent score, they are telling their audience that the “experts” are wrong. This is a classic David versus Goliath battle, where the giant streaming platform is the one fighting for the “little guy” movie that everyone else forgot. It is a messy, aggressive marketing strategy that is working better than anyone expected.
Arnold and the Destroyer: Fantasy or Fraud?
The most shocking entry on the list has to be Conan the Destroyer. Coming in with a pathetic percent, this sequel is a far cry from the original Conan the Barbarian. Even Arnold Schwarzenegger himself has joked about his acting skills during this period. But Netflix is obsessed with this movie. They keep bringing it back for “additional runs” because their own original fantasy flicks are reportedly failing to hit the mark.
The behind-the-scenes drama on this one is legendary. You have an NBA icon, Wilt Chamberlain, playing a duplicitous bodyguard, and Grace Jones bringing a level of manic energy that some insiders say was completely unscripted. Jones allegedly kept the cast and crew on their toes with her wild behavior, and it is that unhinged juice that makes the movie a “must-watch” for Netflix today. The critics hated the campiness, but the streaming algorithm loves the chaos.
Aggressive observation: Netflix knows their original fantasy content is boring and sanitized. By licensing Conan, they are giving the audience the raw, weird energy they actually crave. Arnold might not have “mastered” acting yet in , but he looked like a fantasy painting come to life, and in the age of Instagram and TikTok, aesthetics are everything.
Streaming Desperation or Calculated Genius?
Is Netflix hard up for content, as some industry skeptics suggest? The platform is facing massive competition from Max and Disney Plus, and their answer seems to be digging through the bargain bin of Hollywood history. They are literally telling you to ignore the scores. This is a bold-faced admission that they think their audience has “bad” taste—or at least, taste that doesn’t align with the New York Times.
The PR spin here is that they are “providing alternatives” for people who have seen everything. But look closer. These “rotten” movies are cheap to license. By framing them as “underrated gems,” Netflix is slashing their overhead while keeping engagement high. It is a ruthless business move disguised as a friendly recommendation list. The suspicious behavior of the algorithm suggests that these movies are being manually boosted to the top of your feed regardless of what you actually like.
Conan the Destroyer is actually hilarious if you watch it with friends. The critics are just too serious. Grace Jones is a legend.
The Critics Strike Back
Don’t think the Rotten Tomatoes crew is taking this lying down. Sources say there is growing resentment among professional reviewers who feel their influence is being actively undermined by the tech giants. When a platform as big as Netflix tells millions of people that “critics don’t always get it right,” it devalues the entire profession. We are seeing a civil war between the people who study film and the machines that sell it.
And what about the actors? Some A-list stars are reportedly unhappy that their “rotten” past is being dredged up for views. While Saldana and Schwarzenegger are untouchable icons now, younger actors are terrified that their early career mistakes will be the next thing Netflix decides to “reclaim” for the January schedule. It is a digital graveyard, and Netflix is the one holding the shovel.
The Cliffhanger
As the month of January rolls on, the Watch With Us team is already preparing their next list of scandalous recommendations. But there is a darker rumor floating through the valley. Word is that a major Hollywood studio is preparing a massive lawsuit against a prominent streaming site for “manipulating audience perception” of movie ratings. Could Netflix be the target? And which beloved director just signed a secret deal to have their “rotten” film deleted from history entirely? The receipts are coming, and the fallout will be absolutely explosive.
Would you like me to dig into the legal filings to see if Netflix is facing a potential lawsuit over their rating manipulation tactics?
