New R-Rated Action Thriller Loses Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score With 1 Negative Review - MCE Notices | California State Portal

A new R-rated action thriller just lost its perfect Rotten Tomatoes score after one lone negative review crashed the party.

There have been several R-rated action thrillers released so far in 2026, including Jason Statham’s Shelter, which has a solid 64% Rotten Tomatoes score, while Netflix’s Apex, starring Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton, earned a slightly stronger 67%. Prime Video’s The Bluff, led by Priyanka Chopra and Karl Urban, is more mixed at 55%. While those movies never reached perfection, one new action thriller did, at least for a little while, until its flawless Rotten Tomatoes score was shattered by a single negative review.

10 Praiseworthy Action Thriller Movies No One Ever Talks About (#1 Needs More Attention)

Action thrillers are a unique breed, and they combine the suspense of thrillers with the explosiveness of action. These movies are way overlooked.

Nine months after its initial premiere, The Furious has lost its perfect Rotten Tomatoes score with one negative review. Directed by Kenji Tanigaki, the English-language Hong Kong action film follows an ordinary man and father who, with the help of a journalist, fights fiercely against a criminal empire of ruthless kidnappers to save his abducted daughter.

Now, on the day of its theatrical release, The Furious has lost its perfect Rotten Tomatoes score, dropping to 99%, following the publication of a single negative review from Kelly Vance of East Bay Express, who writes, “There’s nothing here that industrious, bottom-feeding movie audiences haven’t seen before. The Furious passes in front of the spectators’ gaze in an all-too-familiar blur.”

The Furious now has 90 total reviews from critics, coupled with a 94% audience score with 50+ verified ratings. As of June 12, the film is now playing in theaters in the United States and Hong Kong, following its premiere at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025.

In ScreenRant‘s review of The Furious, Josh Bate rated it a near-perfect nine out of 10 stars and calls it “one of the best pure-action movies this century… Jet Li’s former co-star Xie Miao shines in The Furious, a pulse-pounding action film that ranks among the genre’s best.” He continues:

Its gripping action is so singular that it feels like a one-of-a-kind viewing experience, different from almost every other film (or show) out there.

Xie Miao's Wang Wei and Joe Taslim's Navin holding a palette as an enemy kicks against it in The Furious — Xie Miao’s Wang Wei and Joe Taslim’s Navin holding a palette as an enemy kicks against it in The Furious

The cast includes Xie Miao in the lead role and Mortal Kombat star Joe Taslim as the journalist alongside Yang Enyou, Jeeja Yanin, Brian Le, Joey Iwanaga, Sahajak Boonthanakit, Manatsanun Phanlerdwongsaku, Guo Junqing, Winai Wiangyangkung, Yayan Ruhian, and Yayan Ruhian.

Overall, critics are practically tripping over themselves to praise The Furious – calling its fight choreography groundbreaking, relentless, and breathtaking. Many argue that Kenji Tanigaki has raised the bar for martial arts cinema, transforming a simple revenge setup into an unforgettable showcase of precision and spectacle.

Even the lone dissenting voice mostly fades into the background because critics are overwhelmingly celebrating the movie’s inventive camerawork, punishing stunts, and nonstop energy. Some admit that the story stays familiar, yet they insist that its astonishing execution makes every punch, kick, and bloody collision in The Furious worthwhile.