Andrew Garfield’s latest psychological thriller, After the Hunt, has brought an end to his impressive Rotten Tomatoes streak. The two-time Oscar nominee, known for roles such as Spider-Man in No Way Home and Jonathan Larson in Tick, Tick… Boom!, saw his new film receive mixed to negative reviews upon its wide release.
A Closer Look at After the Hunt and Its Reception
Directed by Luca Guadagnino, After the Hunt centers on Alma Olsson (Julia Roberts), a professor who becomes entangled in a tense crisis involving her star student Maggie Price (Ayo Edebiri) and colleague Hank (Andrew Garfield). As Alma digs deeper into the events, unresolved secrets from her past threaten to surface, creating escalating tension throughout the film.
Since its premiere at the Venice Film Festival in August, After the Hunt has struggled with critical and audience response. The Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer currently stands at 39%, based on 163 reviews, signaling a negative reception from critics. Viewer responses echoed this sentiment, with a Popcornmeter score of 34% and a CinemaScore grade of C-. This performance marks a significant shift for Garfield, whose recent projects had consistently earned Fresh ratings from both critics and audiences.
Andrew Garfield’s Recent Filmography and Rotten Tomatoes History
Andrew Garfield’s previous movies had all maintained positive Rotten Tomatoes scores, contributing to a streak that has now ended. His well-received films include Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021), Tick, Tick… Boom! (2021), and the upcoming We Live in Time (2024). Each of these films garnered Fresh ratings on both the Tomatometer and Popcornmeter, a streak broken only by After the Hunt.
Critics’ Views on the Film’s Themes and Execution
Most critics pointed out that After the Hunt suffers from an overcomplicated plot, with sociopolitical themes like #MeToo, elite privilege, and generational conflict not fully realized. The film’s philosophical undertones were described as unclear, which contributed to the negative reception. Yet, some voices within the review community found merit in certain aspects. Jack Walters from ScreenRant praised the film as an “engaging story,” and highlighted Julia Roberts as a particularly strong presence, saying,
“Julia Roberts is undeniably the star of the show.”
Andrew Garfield on the Film’s Polarizing Reaction
Discussing the film’s divisive reception in an interview with RadioTimes.com, Garfield acknowledged the subjective nature of how audiences respond to the story, suggesting it also offers a form of personal growth and challenge.
that becomes the story, in a way, and that becomes maybe more – I don’t know – growthful or invigorating or challenging.
— Andrew Garfield, Actor
Future Projects Following After the Hunt
Despite this setback, Garfield’s career remains active with several projects underway. He will reunite with Claire Foy in the British adaptation of Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree, following his role in Breathe. Additionally, Garfield will work again with Guadagnino in the biographical comedy Artificial, portraying OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. These upcoming roles indicate continued momentum for the actor, even as After the Hunt faces critical challenges.
After the Hunt is currently available in theaters nationwide for viewers interested in experiencing Garfield’s latest work firsthand.
