Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire is here, but sadly, it isn’t getting the rave reviews many might have hoped for.

The filmmaker’s stab at his own unique Star Wars-like space opera is currently sitting at a 23% critic approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes—making it officially rotten. Not only is it a lower rating than any of his DCEU outings, but it’s his second worst-rated project, only beating out Sucker Punch’s 22%.

But what exactly doesn’t work about it?

What’s Wrong With Rebel Moon Part One?

Critics have seen Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire, and they’re making their thoughts known on Rotten Tomatoes. Needless to say, across the board, they generally aren’t very positive.

Welei Ma from PerthNow called the film “a derivative space opera that indulges in Snyder’s worst maximalist impulses:”

“Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire is a derivative space opera that indulges in Snyder’s worst maximalist impulses. It is a sensory assault, a punitive experience that can be summed up in one word: Loud.“

The Wrap’s William Bibbani declared Rebel Moon as an “uninspired Star Wars knockoff:

“A hugely expensive but uninspired ‘Star Wars’ knockoff with some thrilling action sequences and some truly ugly moments that taint the entire thing.”

Kevin Maher from the Time (UK) joked about the film’s excessive slo-mo and cast of characters whom he felt “so little” for:

“Never before, on planet cinema, has so much slow-mo been wasted on so many characters for whom we care so little.”

Rolling Stone’s David Fear suggested that “someone may have forgotten to pay attention to the storytelling aspect:”

“What you begin to suspect halfway through Rebel Moon — Part 1: A Child of Fire is that amidst all of this mix-and-match world-building, someone may have forgotten to pay attention to the storytelling aspect.”

Valerie Complex from Deadline Hollywood Daily explained that Snyder’s newest film “deals with the same old issues:”

“Another Zack Snyder movie, that deals with the same old issues. Quality production values with scatterbrained, incoherent storytelling. I feel like a broken record.”

Tom Beasley, who writes for The Digital Fix, offered a slight silver lining, noting that the movie does “occasionally [find] its groove” but that it doesn’t make up for its many failings:

“When it occasionally finds its groove, it’s loads of fun. Unfortunately, there’s far too much dead air and leaden meandering, with a gaping void where all of the heart and humanity should be.”

Among the many rotten reviews, there were a couple fresh opinions. 

What To Watch’s Jason Best felt that the director made “something fresh out of dated movie tropes:”

“It is remarkable what a good job Snyder has done of making something fresh out of dated movie tropes, how cleverly he pulls new rabbits out of old hats. And… he still manages to spring surprises that will knock viewers sideways.”

Neil Smith from Total Film believed that the film “delivers bombastic mayhem and grandiose visuals:”

“Snyder’s passion project risks becoming subsumed by its own self-importance, but delivers bombastic mayhem and grandiose visuals by the bucket-load.”

While it doesn’t seem like Part One knocked it out of the park for most, many are still holding out hope that Part Two can somehow bring with it a satisfying conclusion to the franchise’s story.

Though, with Part Two already filmed, there’s no time for any of the creatives to adjust based on feedback—so audiences better strap in for whatever Snyder’s big finale has in store for everyone on April 19, 2024.