Filmmaker Taika Waititi has publicly criticized film reviewers, labeling them "sad lost souls who couldn't achieve their dreams" following the release of his latest film, "Klara and the Sun." Waititi, known for his work on "Jojo Rabbit" and Marvel's "Thor: Love and Thunder," shared his sentiments in an Instagram post.
"Klara and the Sun" has faced a challenging critical reception since its October 23, 2026 release. While audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes stand at 74%, its Tomatometer score has fallen to a 'rotten' 26%. The film's IMDb Metascore is also low, at 30 out of 100.
Waititi stated that he has avoided reading reviews for nearly 15 years, but acknowledged that he "does listen to the people." He directed his Instagram followers to critical responses, adding, "So, this Halloween, let's spare a thought for those sad lost souls who couldn't achieve their dreams of becoming artists, and thus settled, and became critics. The same people who also hated Jojo Rabbit."
This comment about "Jojo Rabbit" is notable, as his 2019 film holds an 81% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes. IGN gave "Jojo Rabbit" an 8.5/10.
The film, based on Kazuo Ishiguro's novel, stars Jenna Ortega as Klara, an Artificial Friend seeking a home, and Mia Tharia as Josie. Despite the critical discourse, "Klara and the Sun" has struggled commercially, grossing only $1.7 million worldwide after two weekends, with a reported budget between $20 million and $40 million. Sony Pictures has reportedly stopped reporting its box office earnings.
Waititi concluded his social media remarks by calling critics "Irrelevant. Out of touch. Obsolete. In the bin."
This situation follows Waititi's announcement that his planned "Star Wars" film is "on ice" after six years of development.