John Cena's Remarkable Rotten Tomatoes Turnaround: Unveiling the Brilliance Behind His Blockbuster Cameo
Discover how John Cena's Rotten Tomatoes score took a dramatic turn with a single 2023 movie.
John Cena has starred in several movies that received positive ratings on Rotten Tomatoes in the past. However, his recent films have not been as well-received, with most being labeled as "Rotten" except for one particular movie where he made a cameo appearance. His latest film, the 2024 comedy "Ricky Stanicky," currently holds a 47 percent score on the review site. Unfortunately, this falls short of the 60 percent needed for a "Fresh" rating, indicating that the movie may remain in the "Rotten" category despite more reviews coming in after its premiere on March 7.
Even though "Ricky Stanicky" didn't fare well with critics, Cena's other recent projects have also struggled to impress. Films like "Vacation Friends," "The Independent," "Fast X," and "Argylle" failed to achieve a "Fresh" rating, creating a disappointing lineup of movies for the actor on Rotten Tomatoes. However, Cena's brief appearance in a major 2020s film managed to salvage his streak of poorly reviewed movies. This cameo not only saved his reputation but also highlighted the wisdom of his decision to take on a smaller role.
John Cena's Amazing Barbie Cameo Now Breaks Up An 8-Movie "Rotten" Score Streak For His Live-Action Roles
John Cena's as a smiling mermaid next to Dua Lipa in Barbie - John Cena's Amazing Barbie Cameo Now Breaks Up An 8-Movie "Rotten" Score Streak For His Live-Action Roles
John Cena appeared in Greta Gerwig's movie Barbie as Kenmaid, a merman version of Ken, while Dua Lipa played Mermaid Barbie. The film was a fantasy comedy that became a huge success, grossing over $1.4 billion at the box office in 2023. It received high praise from both critics and audiences, leading to multiple award nominations. Barbie holds an impressive 88 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes based on nearly 500 reviews. Thanks to his role in Gerwig's movie, Cena broke his streak of "Rotten" scores for his previous live-action films.
Cena's cameo in Barbie happened because he was filming Fast X near the set of the fantasy comedy.
After Cena's role as Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad, he starred in a series of movies with mixed reviews. His first film post-The Suicide Squad was Vacation Friends, followed by The Independent and Fast X. Luckily, Cena's next project was Barbie, which broke his "Rotten" score streak for live-action films. Next, he appeared in Hidden Strike, Vacation Friends 2, Freelance, Argylle, and Ricky Stanicky.
Initially hesitant about playing Kenmaid in Barbie, Cena was advised against it. His cameo in the film only happened because he was filming Fast X nearby. Ultimately, it was a wise decision for Cena to take on the role in Barbie, given its critical acclaim and success at the box office.
John Cena's Bleak Rotten Tomatoes Streak Isn't Actually Worrying For His Future Movies
Ricky Stanicky dressed as Britney Spears - John Cena's Bleak Rotten Tomatoes Streak Isn't Actually Worrying For His Future Movies
Despite Cena's recent track record of "Rotten" films on Rotten Tomatoes, all is not lost for the actor. The actor excels in R-rated comedies that may not be loved by critics but are enjoyed by audiences, which helps boost his popularity.
Cena also includes some "Fresh" movies in his filmography, such as Barbie, The Suicide Squad, and Bumblebee, to offset his overall average score on the review-aggregation website.
Editor's P/S:
John Cena's recent string of poorly received films has raised concerns about his future prospects. However, his cameo appearance in the critically acclaimed "Barbie" has provided a glimmer of hope. The success of "Barbie" demonstrates that Cena still has the ability to connect with audiences, even in smaller roles. Furthermore, Cena's upcoming projects include several high-profile films, such as "Project X-Traction" and "Peacemaker Season 2," which could potentially help him regain his critical acclaim.
While Cena's Rotten Tomatoes score may not be ideal, it's important to note that it doesn't necessarily reflect his overall popularity or box office success. Many of Cena's recent films, despite their negative reviews, have performed well at the box office, indicating that audiences continue to enjoy his work. Ultimately, Cena's future success will depend on his ability to balance critical acclaim with popular appeal, which he has shown he is capable of doing.
