Taika Waititi's 'Klara and the Sun' Draws Scathing Reviews for Tonal Mismatch

Key points

• The film, rated PG-13 and running 1 hour 56 minutes, opens in theaters on October 23, 2026.
• Critics widely criticize the movie for its tonal mismatch with Ishiguro’s novel, describing it as excessively twee and sentimental.
• Jenna Ortega stars as Klara, a solar-powered AI companion, alongside Amy Adams, Steve Buscemi, and Natasha Lyonne.
• The film holds a 25% Rotten Tomatoes score and a 23 Metacritic score, indicating severe critical backlash.
• Waititi’s direction is compared unfavorably to his previous work, 'Jojo Rabbit,' with critics noting a lack of genuine emotion.

Background

Our archive indicates that 'Klara and the Sun' has faced severe critical backlash since early October 2026, with outlets like Variety and The Independent labeling it a 'calamitous' and 'schmaltzy misfire.' The film’s low aggregate scores (25% Rotten Tomatoes, 23 Metacritic) have raised concerns about its commercial viability ahead of its wide release.

How outlets are covering it

IndieWire’s Ryan Lattanzio calls the film 'confoundingly awful' and 'relentlessly twee,' criticizing Waititi’s whimsical direction for undermining the novel’s profound themes. The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney describes it as a 'cloying, clumsy AI fable' that is the worst screen adaptation of an Ishiguro novel, noting that the cast is poorly served by the script. The Daily Beast’s Nick Schager labels it a 'great big ball of flaming sentimentality,' comparing Waititi’s approach to his previous 'Jojo Rabbit.' Book Riot, however, offers a more neutral perspective, recommending the film to fans of the novel and highlighting its themes of humanity and technology, though it does not provide a critical assessment of the film’s quality.

Why it matters

The film’s critical failure highlights the risks of adapting literary works with a tonal mismatch, potentially impacting Waititi’s reputation and the commercial viability of the project. It also raises questions about the future of Jenna Ortega’s film career, as critics note her recent roles have been misapplied.

What to watch

The film is set to open in theaters on October 23, 2026, with its box office performance to be monitored in the coming weeks. Critics and audiences will likely debate the film’s reception and its impact on Waititi’s and Ortega’s careers.