‘Verity’ Receives Mixed Reviews on Rotten Tomatoes but Anne Hathaway Stands Out

Adaptations of Colleen Hoover’s works have not been favored by critics. Each film based on her novels has garnered a ‘rotten’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, yet many have achieved box office success. ‘Verity’ is the latest example of this ongoing disparity between critical reception and audience enjoyment.

The film boasts a strong cast, featuring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett, along with director Michael Showalter and a dedicated fan base. This marks Hathaway’s fifth theatrical release this year, following ‘The Odyssey’ at 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, ‘The End of Oak Street’ at 86%, ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ at 78%, and ‘Mother Mary’ at 69%.

On Wednesday, the review embargo lifted at 9 a.m. ET, with the first reviews arriving just two days before the film’s opening on October 2. Currently, ‘Verity’ holds a 46% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 37 reviews, making it the only one of Hathaway’s 2026 films to fall into ‘rotten’ territory.

The score has fluctuated as more critics have submitted their reviews. ‘Verity’ initially debuted at around 54%, then fell to 52% and 50%, ultimately landing at 46%.

Metacritic reflects a “mixed or average” reception, with a score of 46 based on 11 reviews. Among these, 2 were positive, 7 were mixed, and 2 were negative.

Critics’ opinions vary widely. Screen Rant’s Liz Declan awarded the film 8 out of 10, suggesting it might be the best adaptation of Hoover’s work to date, while praising Johnson’s comfort in her role. IndieWire described it as a fun and frigid psycho-thriller, commending Johnson’s ability to navigate complex emotions, though questioning Showalter’s grasp of horror.

Conversely, The Hollywood Reporter’s Richard Lawson criticized the film for lacking both sexiness and intelligence, despite the appeal of its cast. SlashFilm’s Nina Starner rated it 2 out of 10, while Edward Douglas from Weekend Warrior gave it 4 out of 10, labeling it one of the least effective erotic thrillers in recent years.

Some reviews were more moderate. HeyUGuys rated it 3 out of 5, noting it’s hard not to enjoy a film that fully embraces its own absurdity. The AU Review echoed this sentiment, giving it 3 out of 5 and calling it slickly produced.

A common critique centers on the film’s tone. ComingSoon’s Jonathan Sim rated it 5 out of 10, stating it struggles to balance its various elements, while Digital Spy gave it 2 out of 5, suggesting it fails to commit to its campy potential, resulting in a tedious experience.

AZFamily’s Hunter V. Norris rated it 3.5 out of 10, likening it to a Lifetime original movie. Another critic mentioned that the film is hindered by mainstream constraints.

Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett star in an all-new trailer for #Verity.

In theaters October 2. pic.twitter.com/niq02J5nO5

— Rotten Tomatoes 🍅 (@RottenTomatoes) August 11, 2026

One consensus among critics is the praise for Hathaway’s performance. Even those who criticized the film acknowledged her talent, with Starner noting that her skill makes parts of the film enjoyable.

Alison Rose of FilmDirect remarked that the film benefits from Hathaway’s deliciously devious portrayal and some effective tension, although a lack of chemistry and an underdeveloped romance prevent it from being fully satisfying. A critic from Mashable mentioned that Hathaway appears to be relishing her role.

Despite the mixed reviews, box office projections suggest the film may perform well. Box Office Theory estimates a domestic opening between $24 million and $34 million, with studio tracking predicting $27 million to $30 million, enough to surpass Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger’, which is expected to earn between $7.5 million and $12.5 million.

Boxoffice Pro’s long-range forecast is even more optimistic, estimating $30 million to $40 million. For context, ‘It Ends with Us’ opened to $50 million domestically, while ‘Regretting You’ debuted at $13.6 million and ‘Reminders of Him’ at $17.8 million. The film has a reported budget of $40 million and is rated R, unlike the PG-13 ratings of previous adaptations.

‘Verity’ has a runtime of 1 hour and 54 minutes and is rated R. It will have Thursday previews before its nationwide release on Friday, October 2.

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