Clayface reviews are in, and the verdict is a split decision: roughly 73% of critics on Rotten Tomatoes like DC Studios’ R-rated body horror, while Metacritic sits at a lukewarm 59. The film opens Friday, Oct. 23, with Thursday previews, and the early Clayface reviews agree on the gore and disagree on almost everything else. Here is how to read the divide before you buy a ticket.
Clayface reviews at a glance: a score that is still moving
The review embargo lifted Oct. 21, and the Rotten Tomatoes number has shifted as more critics weigh in. Forbes (Tim Lammers) showed two figures as the page updated: 77% from 44 reviews, then 73% from 56 reviews. Box Office Theory cited 74% from 62 submissions. World of Reel reported 73% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 59 on Metacritic.
It helps to know why the two numbers differ. Rotten Tomatoes counts the share of reviews that are positive, so a film critics merely like can score high. Metacritic converts reviews into a weighted average, so lukewarm praise pulls the number down. A 73% fresh score paired with a 59 is what a broadly “pretty good, not great” reception tends to look like.
The safe read is that the score sits in the low-to-mid 70s and could drift further. World of Reel summed up the mood as “a big shrug of mixed-to-positive.” That is a fair description of where the Clayface reviews landed on day one.
How the Clayface reviews compare with Superman and Supergirl
Forbes put the number in context against two recent DC Studios releases. Superman (2025) holds 83% from 509 reviews. Supergirl (2026) sits at 52% from 380 reviews.
For fans, that placement matters. A mid-70s score for a lesser-known villain character is not a disaster. It is also not the kind of consensus that turns a film into a must-see event.
So the new film lands well below the studio’s best-reviewed outing and comfortably above its weakest. One caution: those older scores rest on far more reviews, and a fresh score built on 44 to 62 reviews is less settled. Expect some movement once the full critic pool is in.
| Film | Rotten Tomatoes | Reviews counted |
|---|---|---|
| Superman (2025) | 83% | 509 |
| Clayface (2026) | 73% to 77% (moving) | 44 to 62, depending on the snapshot |
| Supergirl (2026) | 52% | 380 |
Source: Forbes, Box Office Theory and World of Reel. Clayface figures changed as the page updated.
What critics praise: gore, monster-movie fun and Tom Rhys Harries
The positive Clayface reviews lean on genre pleasure. William Bibbiani of TheWrap called it “a decent monster movie, with all the straightforward entertainment value.” Guy Lodge of Variety wrote that “they’re fresh and ickily enjoyable.”
Peter Gray of The AU Review went further, praising “a gruesome, uncompromising and unexpectedly affecting descent into villainy.” Glen Garner of Deadline said it is “worth the price of admission for its genre-driven approach to a lesser known character.”
Gray’s phrase “unexpectedly affecting” is the notable one, because it suggests at least some critics found emotion beneath the gore. Whether that works for you may depend on how much you buy into the descent into villainy, and other critics clearly did not.
The common thread is a B-movie appetite for body horror, plus a committed lead turn from Tom Rhys Harries in the title role. The film is directed by James Watkins from a screenplay by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini. The supporting cast includes Naomi Ackie, David Dencik, Max Minghella and Eddie Marsan.
Where critics push back on the script
The pans are sharper than the raves are warm. Kate Erbland of IndieWire called it “this ambitious misfire can never conform to one shape, one final form, or one good idea.” Barry Hertz of the Globe and Mail cited “a disheartening lack of self-awareness, or self-respect.”
David Fear of Rolling Stone offered the most memorable insult, calling it “the equivalent of eating a handful of Play-Doh, and twice as flavorless.” Brian Truitt of USA Today pointed to “a severe lack of character development.”
World of Reel adds a structural complaint. It describes a revenge origin story similar to Darkman and The Crow that “rarely breaks free” of its template. In short, the criticism is about the script and originality, not the creature effects.
Where critics agree and where they split
Reading across the Clayface reviews, a pattern emerges. These are our takeaways from the quotes above, not an official tally.
- Agreement: the film is gruesome, it embraces genre, and Harries gives the role real commitment.
- Split on character depth: Gray finds it “unexpectedly affecting,” while Truitt sees “a severe lack of character development.”
- Split on originality: Garner values the genre-driven take on a lesser-known character, while World of Reel says it rarely escapes the revenge-origin mold.
- Split on tone: some critics enjoy the “ickily” fun side, while Erbland sees a film with no single clear idea.
Who should see Clayface, and who should skip it
This is a hard R. The film is body horror, and the reviews repeatedly mention gore, so it is not a family outing and not a superhero film for younger fans. Check the rating details and content notes before you go.
Based on the Clayface reviews, here is a quick guide:
- Go if you like creature features, practical-feeling gore and character-driven villain stories, and you can accept a familiar plot.
- Wait for streaming if you want a polished, layered script or you are sensitive to graphic violence.
- Skip if you are looking for a lighter superhero night out. The tone here is dark.
Our earlier coverage of the first reactions to Clayface struck a similar note, with gory praise for Harries and open questions about the box office.
Budget, box office and what the Clayface reviews could mean
Reports on the budget differ. One source says $30 million, while Variety reports about $44 million, according to World of Reel. Treat the production cost as unsettled.
Opening tracking before the reviews ranged from $18 million to $20 million at World of Reel. Box Office Theory projected $15 million to $23 million, and BoxOffice Pro had $25 million to $30 million. For the full picture, see our post on Clayface box office tracking.
Where that leaves the weekend is not obvious. The high end of BoxOffice Pro’s range is well above the high end of Box Office Theory’s, which tells you analysts disagree on whether horror fans will turn out. Forecasts are estimates and are subject to revision once Thursday previews and Friday numbers arrive.
It also faces competition. A24’s documentary You Can See Everything opened to $15.6 million and could challenge for the top spot, per World of Reel. Mixed-to-positive Clayface reviews may help a horror film with word of mouth, but they are not a guarantee. CinemaScore, the audience grade, is not available yet.
What is not yet known
A few things are still open. The Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic scores can still change. We do not know the audience grade, the final opening number or the real production cost. We also have not independently screened the film, so everything here reflects published critic responses.
Next up for the DC slate is a Superman sequel next summer, per World of Reel, so Clayface’s performance will be read as a test of the studio’s range.
The takeaway: decide by your tolerance for gore
If you love monster movies and can handle an R rating, the Clayface reviews suggest a gruesome, entertaining ride with a familiar story. If you value tight scripts and fresh ideas, the pans may be closer to your experience.
Practical step: read two or three full reviews from critics whose taste matches yours, check the official rating notes at warnerbros.com, and decide whether to catch it in theaters this weekend or wait. Come back to USA One News after Friday for the first box office numbers.
