Klara and the Sun: A Critical Disaster That Splits Audience and Critic

Key points

• The film, which opens in theaters on October 23, 2026, has received overwhelmingly negative reviews from major critics, with a 25% Rotten Tomatoes score and a 23 Metacritic score.
• Critics describe the film as a tonal misfire, with Waititi’s direction being overly sentimental and clumsy, failing to capture the melancholic tone of Ishiguro’s novel.
• Jenna Ortega’s performance as Klara is noted as a bright spot, with some critics praising her wide-eyed wonder, though others feel she is stranded in cutesy scenes.
• The film’s polarized reception is highlighted by the fact that young influencers and audiences praise it as a favorite, while older critics vehemently disagree.
• Waititi’s direction is criticized for its excessive sentimentality and clumsy comedic set pieces, with the film’s score by Michael Giacchino described as aggressively precious and manipulative.

Background

Jenna Ortega has been stepping away from television after 'Wednesday' to focus on film and personal well-being, citing mental health reasons. She has avoided reading reviews for 'Klara and the Sun' due to the backlash. The film’s poor critical reception has raised concerns about its commercial viability, with a 25% Rotten Tomatoes score and a 23 Metacritic score.

How outlets are covering it

Vulture critic Alison Willmore describes the film as a 'waste of Jenna Ortega,' criticizing Waititi’s direction as a 'misbegotten adaptation' that fails to capture the novel’s tone. Mashable’s review calls the film a 'disaster,' noting that Waititi’s approach is 'confounding' and that the film is 'dreadful, bland, and mean.' The Guardian highlights the polarized reception, noting that young influencers and audiences praise the film as a favorite, while older critics vehemently disagree. Los Angeles Times critic Tim Grierson describes the film as 'shamelessly programmatic,' criticizing Waititi’s direction for its 'saccharine path' and 'sledgehammer mawkishness.'

Why it matters

The film’s polarized reception highlights the ongoing debate about the adaptation of literary works into film, particularly when the director’s style clashes with the source material’s tone. The poor critical reception and low scores raise concerns about the film’s commercial viability, while the positive reception from young audiences suggests a potential divide in audience preferences. The film’s themes of AI companionship and human connection are also relevant in the current cultural conversation about artificial intelligence and its impact on society.

What to watch

The film’s box office performance will be a key indicator of its commercial viability, given the poor critical reception. The polarized reception may also influence future adaptations of literary works, particularly those with a melancholic tone. The film’s themes of AI companionship and human connection may continue to be relevant in the cultural conversation about artificial intelligence and its impact on society.