Trigger Warning Resurrects A Regrettable Netflix PatternTrigger Warning, a Jessica Alba-starring Netflix film, has become a global hit, racking up an incredible 25.7 million views in its first week of release. The movie centers on a proficient Special Forces commando who takes over her father's tavern and becomes involved with a vicious gang. But there's a regrettable twist to this streaming success: Trigger Warning is a low 20% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics and an even worse 16% audience score due to the overwhelming unfavorable reviews it has garnered from both critics and viewers. The movie has drawn criticism for its shoddy action sequences and dubious acting, especially considering that it was marketed as a female-led hybrid of John Wick and First Blood.
Once More, awful movies are topping the charts.The success of Trigger Warning draws attention to a recurrent pattern on Netflix: movies with bad reviews consistently top the streaming charts. In the last two weeks, Hit Man—which garnered critical and fan acclaim for both its entertainment value and Glen Powell's performance—had a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics and a 91% score from viewers, placing it at the top of the Global Top 10. But given Trigger Warning's success, Netflix original films seem to be going back to their usual pattern of high viewership above critical acclaim.
Viewers' Reactions To The Trigger WarningThe disparity between movie popularity and audience reaction has been discussed in light of Trigger Warning's lackluster reviews. The low Rotten Tomatoes score for Trigger Warning suggests a gulf between the streaming platform's audience and critics who write for a living, despite the film receiving significant viewership on Netflix. Regardless of the film's quality, its success may be ascribed to Jessica Alba's star power or the excitement of a fast-paced action movie.
The Success Of Netflix Original SeriesThe success of Trigger Warning highlights how difficult it is to gauge how well-liked Netflix Original content is. Though they can give an accurate indication of a movie's audience, viewership figures don't always correspond to film quality. Even if a film doesn't get good reviews, its ability to tailor its material to target people and its algorithm may contribute to its success.
Netflix's Sustained Attention To Action FilmsThe fact that Trigger Warning is on the Netflix Top 10 indicates that the streaming platform is still making action movie investments. While this focus on action movies appeals to a certain audience, it also calls into question Netflix's overall original content approach. Will Netflix try to strike a balance between critical praise and viewership, or will it favor the former over the latter?
