Netflix’s 112-minute sci-fi thriller tops global charts despite poor Rotten Tomatoes rating.

Netflix has demonstrated over the years that a film can resonate with audiences even if it doesn’t impress critics. Take *Bird Box*, for instance, which became a worldwide streaming sensation despite receiving mixed reviews. The Sandra Bullock-led apocalyptic thriller even spawned a spinoff, *Bird Box Barcelona*, though it didn’t quite capture the same magic. Earlier this year, *War Machine* earned a 66% rating on Rotten Tomatoes but still emerged as one of Netflix’s biggest hits of 2026. More recently, the poorly received comedy *72 Hours* (with a mere 17% on Rotten Tomatoes) shot to the top of the streaming charts almost overnight.

It’s well-known that mainstream viewers often have different tastes than critics, and sometimes critics simply miss the mark. This seems to be the case with Netflix’s latest sci-fi thriller, which currently holds a 27% rating on Rotten Tomatoes yet has quickly become a dominant force on the platform since its debut on August 7. *The Last House*, directed by Louis Leterrier and featuring Greta Lee and Wagner Moura, is already being hailed as a global hit, according to data, making it the latest underappreciated release to attract a massive audience.

What sets *The Last House* apart from *Bird Box Barcelona* is that it’s genuinely a compelling film.

The story centers on Jason (Wagner Moura) and Ann Delgado (Greta Lee), a married couple who find themselves trapped in their suburban home with their two children. An invisible force has sealed every door and window, and this bizarre phenomenon seems to be affecting their entire neighborhood. Outside, relentless rain pours down, and the family begins to notice strange creatures lurking in the storm.

With no escape and no understanding of their predicament, the Delgados must survive on whatever they can scavenge from within their home. Days turn into weeks, and eventually years, as their supplies dwindle, forcing the family to dismantle and repurpose their living space just to stay alive.

This intimate premise is a departure for Leterrier, known for films like *The Incredible Hulk*, *Fast X*, and *Now You See Me*. In an interview, he shared that Matthew Robinson’s screenplay felt more personal than his typical projects. As a father, he found himself relating to a story about parents striving to protect their family.

“For the first time in my life, I was about to do something very personal, where I was seeing myself in it,” Leterrier remarked.

Despite its success on Netflix, critics have not been overly kind to *The Last House*. Many negative reviews commend its intriguing premise and strong performances but criticize the direction the story ultimately takes.

A recurring theme in the critiques is that while viewers appreciated the family dynamics and survival narrative, the film faltered when it delved into its larger sci-fi elements. Critics acknowledged Moura and Lee’s performances and the film’s exploration of a family coping with years of isolation, but some felt the nearly two-hour runtime stretched the contained premise too thin. Others pointed out the film’s clear parallels to COVID lockdowns, especially as it began to unravel its mysteries in the final act. While the claustrophobic setup generates significant early tension, several reviews argued that the eventual creatures and climactic showdown lacked the intrigue of simply watching the Delgados navigate their survival.

In contrast, one review praised *The Last House* as “the best Steven Spielberg sci-fi thriller that Spielberg never made,” highlighting the family dynamic and Leterrier’s ability to keep the Delgados at the forefront even as their situation grows increasingly surreal.

Regardless of the critics’ opinions on its conclusion, Netflix viewers have clearly embraced *The Last House*. It serves as another reminder that negative reviews often hold little weight once a film is in front of a vast audience of subscribers.