Summary
- The latest version of The Crow falls short with a 21% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, a minor improvement over previous sequels.
- Every attempt to follow the original movie has stumbled, with the 1994 version widely accepted as a cult favorite.
- The protracted development process for The Crow saw multiple setbacks, leading to disappointment with the latest reimagining’s critical response.
The early responses for the latest big-screen reimagining of The Crow are in, and it continues an unfortunate trend from the franchise’s later movies. Helmed by Ghost in the Shell director Rupert Sanders, and starring Bill Skarsgård as the latest actor to step into the role of James O’Barr’s resurrected comic book vigilante, the new movie follows in the footsteps of the 1994 cult classic adaptation starring Brandon Lee. While Lee would tragically lose his life during production on the original movie, The Crow franchise would continue with three additional sequels and a 1999 television reboot.
With the 2024 version of The Crow now officially in theaters, early reactions have painted a grim picture for the franchise’s latest movie. Currently sitting at 21% on Rotten Tomatoes from 42 reviews, the movie’s early critical score falls well short of the 86% fresh rating enjoyed by the original.
However, as disappointing as that score may seem, it is still a minor improvement over the dismal scores held by the franchise’s assorted sequels. Check out the franchise’s current scores below:
|
Title |
Critical Score |
Audience Score |
|---|---|---|
|
The Crow (1994) |
86% |
90% |
|
The Crow: City of Angels (1996) |
14% |
40% |
|
The Crow: Stairway to Heaven (1999) |
20% |
55% |
|
The Crow: Salvation (2000) |
18% |
43% |
|
The Crow: Wicked Prayer (2005) |
0% |
34% |
|
The Crow (2024) |
21% |
Not yet available |
Why Is The Crow So Hard To Get Right?
Every Attempt To Follow The Original Has Stumbled
Few movies hold such a treasured place in pop culture history as the original version of The Crow. Hauntingly beautiful, and heartbreakingly inseparable from the real-life tragedy surrounding its making, its place as a much-beloved cult favorite is well-earned. Yet, where 1994’s version of The Crow would come to be widely accepted as one of the best comic book adaptations ever made, it seems that every attempt to follow in its footsteps would ultimately fall well short of the original movie starring Lee.
Of course, it is still very early days yet, and
The Crow’
s Rotten Tomatoes score will likely continue to fluctuate as more reviews begin coming in for the movie.
Even in the lead-up to this latest reimagining, it seemed for a long time that a new Crow movie might never happen. Passing between multiple hands, and with plans to cast everyone from Bradley Cooper to Jason Momoa in the leading role, The Crow’s protracted development process was fraught with a nearly endless supply of setbacks and false-starts. With this kind of history in mind, it is even more disappointing to see the latest version also struggle to strike a chord with critics.
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Of course, it is still very early days yet, and The Crow’s Rotten Tomatoes score will likely continue to fluctuate as more reviews begin coming in for the movie. However, given the controversial response that Skarsgård’s heavily tattooed Eric already received from prospective viewers, these less-than-positive reviews do not paint an optimistic picture for the movie’s general audience response either. It would seem, at least for now, that the 1994 version of The Crow will remain unmatched by any other attempt to follow in its enormous footsteps.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes
The Crow (2024)
The Crow (2024) is a dark and gritty reimagining of the original graphic novel. It follows Eric, who is resurrected from the dead to avenge his and his soulmate’s brutal murders. Armed with supernatural abilities, Eric seeks justice against the killers responsible, navigating through a corrupt city that is as much a character as he is. This adaptation introduces new elements to captivate the modern audience.
- Director
- Rupert Sanders
- Release Date
- August 23, 2024
- Distributor(s)
- Lionsgate
- Writers
- James O’Barr , Zach Baylin
- Cast
- Bill Skarsgard , FKA Twigs , Danny Huston , Josette Simon , Laura Birn , Sami Bouajila , Jordan Bolger , Karel Dobrý
- Runtime
- 111 Minutes
- Budget
- $50 Million