Ice Cream Man: Why Eli Roth's New Horror Movie Is Bombing With Critics

Key takeaways

• Ice Cream Man, Eli Roth's new horror film about a mysterious ice cream vendor whose treats send children into a bloodthirsty frenzy, released August 7, 2026 to a rough 24 percent on Rotten Tomatoes from early reviews.
• The film has also drawn real controversy separate from its reviews, including accusations of AI use in several sequences and renewed criticism of Roth himself.
• Here's what's actually going on, and my honest read on how much of this is really about the movie itself.

What's the actual premise of Ice Cream Man?

A mysterious ice cream vendor arrives in town selling treats that whip local children into a bloodthirsty frenzy, a premise that leans into body horror and social commentary territory Roth has worked in before, blending a seemingly innocent, nostalgic image, the neighborhood ice cream truck, with something much darker underneath.

Why is the Rotten Tomatoes score specifically so bad?

At the time of writing, the film sits at 24 percent from 25 reviews, and while that score could still shift as more reviews come in, it currently ranks among the worst scored major horror releases of 2026. For context, it's already scoring below other widely panned genre releases this year, including the Scream 7 sequel at 30 percent and the Universal Monsters reboot of The Mummy at 45 percent, though it hasn't hit the true bottom of the year, which belongs to titles like Psycho Killer at 9 percent and The Strangers: Chapter 3 at 18 percent.

Is this actually one of Roth's worst reviewed films?

If the current score holds, yes. Roughly half of Roth's directorial features have historically earned Rotten Tomatoes "splats," the site's marker for poorly reviewed films, but a final score below 37 percent would place Ice Cream Man as his third worst reviewed film overall, behind only Borderlands and Death Wish, and specifically his worst reviewed horror film to date, a notable distinction given horror has generally been his strongest genre.

What's the actual controversy separate from the reviews themselves?

Two distinct threads, and it's worth separating them rather than treating it as one single controversy. First, the film has faced real social media backlash over suspected use of generative AI in a number of its sequences, a specific and increasingly common flashpoint in film criticism right now as AI tools become more prevalent in production pipelines. Second, and separately, there's been renewed criticism of Roth himself tied to a 2025 comment he reportedly made on his Instagram stories about environmental activist Greta Thunberg, which some have cited as part of broader calls to boycott the film.

How much of the bad reception is actually about the film's quality versus these other factors?

Honestly, it's hard to fully untangle at this point, and I think that's worth being upfront about rather than pretending the reviews exist in a vacuum separate from the controversy surrounding the film's release. Critical reviews are typically written independent of social media boycotts, so the 24 percent score reflects critics' actual reaction to the film itself. That said, a film released into this much surrounding controversy inevitably gets discussed and covered through that lens as much as through pure craft, which is worth knowing if you're trying to figure out whether the reviews are really about the movie or about everything swirling around it.

Should you actually see it, or skip it based on the score?

That depends on what you're looking for. If you're a committed horror fan who tends to find value in even poorly reviewed genre films, some of Roth's most divisive work has developed cult followings over time despite rough initial reception. If you're a more casual viewer looking for a reliably good horror watch, a 24 percent Rotten Tomatoes score combined with this much surrounding controversy is a reasonable signal to wait and see how the conversation settles rather than rushing to see it opening weekend.

Looking for a horror movie that's actually well reviewed instead?

Our movie recommendation quiz can help you find something in the genre that's more reliably worth your time tonight.

Frequently asked questions

What is Ice Cream Man's Rotten Tomatoes score? 24 percent from 25 reviews as of writing, though the score could still shift as more reviews are added.

Is Ice Cream Man one of Eli Roth's worst reviewed films? If the current score holds, it would rank as his third worst reviewed film overall and his worst reviewed horror film specifically.

Why is Ice Cream Man controversial beyond its reviews? It's faced accusations of AI use in several sequences, along with renewed criticism of director Eli Roth tied to past controversial public comments.

When did Ice Cream Man release? August 7, 2026.