If 2025 has proven anything, it is thatbox office earnings and Rotten Tomatoes scores often do not go hand-in-hand.Some of the year’s best films, by Rotten Tomatoes standards, have been less of a hit at the box office.
TakeBring Her Back,for example. The anticipated horror return ofTalk to Mefilmmakers the Philippou brotherswas highly anticipated and ended up well-liked by most critics, scoring a Certified Fresh 89% Tomatometer. But ultimately, so few people saw it, with the film only earning $22.8 million worldwide.
On the other hand,some films with lesser critical responses have done incredibly well at the box office.A Minecraft MovieandJurassic World Rebirthhave Tomatometers of 47% and 52%, respectively, but both are among the top 10 highest-grossing movies of the year.
A recent release’s box office versus critical disparity is particularly notable. Despite great reviews, the film has been slow to catch steam at the box office.
40 Acres Has One Of The Best Rotten Tomatoes Scores This Year
91% Tomatometer Vs. 92% Popcornmeter
40 Acresmay not be a film people have heard much about, butit is one of the best-rated movies of the year. The sci-fi thriller tells the story of a post-apocalyptic world in which a Black Canadian family descended from the American Civil War has to defend their farmland when a group of cannibals wants to seize their resources.
40 Acresis directed by R.T. Thorne, who is most experienced in helming television episodes.Thecast is led by Danielle Deadwyler, who also starred in the thrillerThe Woman in the Yardearlier this year. The supporting cast includes Kataem O’Connor, Michael Greyeyes, Leenah Robinson, Milcania Diaz-Rojas, and Jaeda LeBlanc.
As tends to be true with other movies in her filmography,40 Acresis worth it for Deadwyler’s performance alone.
Themovie has quietly become one of the best-rated films of the year.40 Acreshas a 91% Tomatometer from Rotten Tomatoes critics, and an even higher 92% Popcornmeter from audiences.
This high score includes a 7 out of 10-star review fromScreenRant’s Ferdosa Abdi, who praises Deadwyler’s leading performance and the film’s story. It seems pretty commonplace in the reviews thatthose who have actually seen40 Acreslike or even love it.
40 Acresfirst premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024.
That said, the film has failed to gain significant traction at the box office. It had a paltry $241,296 opening, and has made $669,063 to date. Unlikely to crack $1 million,40 Acreswill not be considered a box office success.
That said, this lackluster box office should not stop thriller fans from checking it out. Even without the box office track record to show for it,Deadwyler is one of the strongest actors of her generation. As tends to be true with other movies in her filmography,40 Acresis worth it for Deadwyler’s performance alone.
The film also boasts a fascinating storyline. It is rare to see a post-apocalyptic movie that tells a story rooted in Black history and trauma, but40 Acresdoes that, and it does it well. Even with the low box office, this movie is well worth checking out.
