Following early reviews, Alan Ritchson‘s new movie, Playdate, has faced widespread critical disapproval, opening with a Rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While marketed as a blend of suburban comedy and high-stakes action, critics argue the film fails to balance its tones or deliver genuine humor. Despite featuring Ritchson and Kevin James in leading roles, critics describe Playdate as a misfired mix of clichés and chaotic storytelling.
Playdate reviews are not a sight for sore eyes
Playdate drew strongly negative reactions from critics, with multiple outlets assigning Rotten scores. Among top critics, Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, “Playdate isn’t a movie. It’s a compendium of clichés in search of one. What’s even worse is that the clichés are so stale.”
Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com rated the film 1 out of 4, calling it “a remarkably stupid movie that thinks you’re remarkably stupid too.” Matt Donato from AV Club described it as “bottomfeeding films like Playdate that are the genre’s executioner.”
John Serba of Decider summarized the tone as “obnoxious,” while Robert Kojder from Flickering Myth rated it 1 out of 5, saying it’s “damn near unwatchable and insufferable.” Gregory Nussen of ScreenRant criticized the movie as “regressive and devoid of genuine laughs.”
Critics cited poor editing, uneven performances, and reliance on recycled tropes. Luke Greenfield’s direction was criticized for lacking cohesion, while the screenplay was described as dated and overworked.
Despite the negative consensus, a few critics offered moderate praise. Nicholas Brooks of CBR rated it 6/10, calling it “one of the more harmless choices that promises to deliver exactly what it promises.”
M.N. Miller of FandomWire also gave it 6/10, writing that “Ritchson steals every scene with absurd energy and surprising warmth.” However, most professional reviewers agreed that Playdate fails to deliver as an effective action-comedy.
Alan Ritchson-led Playdate gets poor Rotten Tomatoes score
As of November 14, 2025, Playdate holds a 19% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 54% audience score from over 100 ratings. Directed by Luke Greenfield and distributed by Prime Video, the movie stars Alan Ritchson and Kevin James as two suburban dads whose afternoon playdate spirals into chaos when they are pursued by mercenaries.
Produced by Nickel City Pictures, the film premiered on Prime Video on November 12, 2025. Its reception among critics and audiences reflects a sharp divide, with professional reviews leaning overwhelmingly negative despite a few favorable audience responses.
Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on ComingSoon.
