This Star-Studded Thriller on Netflix Looks Great—But I Am So Confused by Its Rotten Tomatoes Rating

As a fan of thrillers, I’m always on the hunt for a new movie or show that will have me on the edge of my seat. I’ve had The 355 on my watchlist for a long time, but have admittedly put it off because of the low ratings from critics. Despite its stacked cast, The 355 only has a 24 percent rating on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer, which is confusing because it has an 86 percent on the Popcornmeter, indicating that while it might not have been critically acclaimed at the time of its release, it is still well-liked by viewers.

Starring Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Diane Kruger and Lupita Nyong’o, the film centers around a CIA agent (Kruger) who joins forces with a rival German agent, a cutting-edge computer specialist and a Colombian psychologist when a top-secret weapon falls into the hands of a group of mercenaries. Together, these four women are tasked with saving the world, while also battling a mysterious individual who is tracking their every move.

Directed by Simon Kinberg, the film was released theatrically in January 2022 after being acquired by Universal Pictures at the 71st Cannes Film Festival, and was considered a box office bomb, grossing $27.8 million worldwide on a $75 million budget.